Orchard Gardens

Updated 1 January 2020

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by two inspectors.

Service and service type

Orchard Gardens is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with nine people who used the service and one relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with nine members of staff including two area managers, registered manager, assistant manager, senior care worker, care workers, activities officers and housekeeping staff.

We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at five staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Updated 1 January 2020

About the service

Orchard Gardens is a residential care home providing personal care to 38 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. Orchard Gardens is part of Bishopstoke Park, a retirement housing development. There are facilities on site such as a wellness centre and spa, restaurant and shop which are easily accessible from the home.

Orchard Gardens provides accommodation for up to 48 people across two floors of a purpose-built home. One floor provides care to people living with more advanced dementias.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People told us they felt safe and we saw records and practice that supported this. Medicines were safely managed, and people were supported to take their medicines in their chosen way. Risks were assessed, and additional controls put in place to minimise any residual risks. Staff were safely recruited and there were sufficient staff deployed to meet peoples care needs. The service was very clean and there were no malodours.

Pre-admission assessments ensured the provider could meet people’s needs before they moved to the service and assessments looked at people holistically. People received appropriate support to eat and drink enough and most of the feedback we received about meals was positive. Staff were well supported through supervision and a comprehensive package of induction and ongoing training. The premises were purpose built and the registered manager was working to make them more dementia friendly in appearance.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were supported in a person-centred way and their needs associated with the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010 were met. People were supported to make choices and be involved in decisions about their care to the extent of their ability and regular care plan reviews ensured that care delivery was as the person wanted it to be. People were treated with respect by staff and supported to maintain their current level of skills.

Peoples care records had extensive information about their life histories and each person had a memory box on the wall outside of their room. There was a busy activities programme, and people were encouraged to join sessions that stimulated both their mind and kept the physically active. There was a complaints policy and we saw that procedures were followed when dealing with complaints about the service so that a positive outcome was achieved. The provider had resources available to ensure that they met the Accessible Information Standard. The registered manager was proud of the end of life care delivered by the service. Staff had recently completed training in end of life care and were developing end of life plans with people.

There was a positive, open culture at the service, people and staff were happy to speak with us. Regular audits and an ongoing action plan ensured the service was continually improving. The registered manager had forged positive working relationships with local health and social care providers and worked in partnership with them.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 18 March 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Orchard Gardens on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.