• Care Home
  • Care home

Apple Tree Care Home

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Ox Carr Lane, Strensall, York, North Yorkshire, YO32 5TD (01904) 491300

Provided and run by:
Apple Tree Care Limited

Important: The provider of this service changed - see old profile

Latest inspection summary

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Background to this inspection

Updated 27 September 2022

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

One inspector completed the inspection with the support of an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Apple Tree Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Apple Tree Care Home is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post. The manager in position had begun the application to become registered with CQC.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We used information gathered as part of monitoring activity that took place on 22 June 2022 to help plan the inspection and inform our judgements. 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 (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make.

We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We visited the service and completed a visual inspection. We reviewed documentation relating to 5 people’s care and support needs. We looked at a range of documents relating to the health and safety of the service, including safe staff recruitment. We spoke with 11 relatives and 5 people who use the service. We also spoke with 7 staff, including the manager, senior carers, carer and administrative staff.

Overall inspection

Good

Updated 27 September 2022

About the service

Apple Tree Care Home is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 20 people. The service provides support to older people, some of these people are living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 19 people using the service. The care home accommodates people in one adapted building.

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

People felt safe and were protected from avoidable harm. Staff had safeguarding knowledge and the appropriate health and safety checks for the service were in place. People were supported with their medicines safely.

Staff were not always wearing personal protective equipment such as face masks correctly. We recommended the provider considers their approach to ensure infection outbreaks can be effectively managed.

There were enough staff to meet people’s needs. Staff felt they had time to spend with people individually. People told us they thought the staff were caring and had time for them.

People received personalised care. Care plans were detailed and reflected people being provided with choice and completing a range of activities.

The service was well led. People spoke highly of the manager and felt they were approachable. Both staff and the manager were aware of their responsibilities and demonstrated knowledge of their role.

The quality assurance systems were effective and had improved since the last inspection. The provider had an action plan in place to drive continuous improvements within the service.

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.

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 (October 2019). At our last inspection we recommended the provider review the quality assurance system in line with best practice. At this inspection we found the provider had made the required improvements.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We undertook this focused inspection in relation to the Key Questions; Safe and Well-led. For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

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

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.