Elburton Heights

Updated 17 March 2023

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

The inspection was carried out by 1 inspector and 1 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

Elburton Heights 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. Elburton Heights is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

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 (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 used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We spoke with 10 people who used the service and 6 relatives. We spoke with 6 members of staff, the registered manager, clinical lead and 2 operational managers. We observed how staff interacted with people. We reviewed a range of records. This included 10 people's care records and medicine administration records. We looked at 6 staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including audits were reviewed.

Updated 17 March 2023

About the service

Elburton Heights is a care home that can accommodate up to 85 people who require nursing or residential care. The home can provide care to people who might be living with a physical disability, a mental health need or with dementia. The home has four separate units: Maple provides nursing care; Willow provides nursing care to people living with dementia; Birch provides residential care and Sycamore provides residential care for people living with dementia. Each unit had its own communal facilities. At the time of the inspection 54 people were living at the home.

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

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's nutritional needs were met, and risks associated with foods and fluids were managed well. People told us they enjoyed the food and we saw people had an enjoyable dining experience.

People had opportunities and access to a variety of activities to prevent social isolation. Social activities met people's individual needs, and people told us they enjoyed the activities provided and they felt they were inclusive.

People's care plans reflected individual needs with clear guidance for staff to follow to ensure people received person centred care. People were positive about the care they received and told us staff were caring. During our observations we saw staff being kind and caring to the people they supported.

Staff regularly assessed the risks associated with people's care and well-being and took appropriate action to ensure the risks were managed and that people were safe. People received their medicines as prescribed and were supported effectively by knowledgeable and trained staff.

The service was well-led by a new registered manager who was focusing on improving people's care and developing staff skills. A lot of significant changes had been implemented to support effective team working and improve people's outcomes. The provider had quality assurance systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 19 November 2019).

At our last inspection we recommended that the provider strengthened its food and drink strategy to ensure people's nutrition and hydration needs are being closely monitored and met.

At our last inspection we recommended that the service sought guidance from dementia care specialist organisations about engaging people in meaningful activities, and to improve their records to demonstrate people's engagement.

At our last inspection we recommended the service reviewed people's care records to ensure they provide detailed information about people's care needs and their preferences.

At this inspection we found the provider had acted on these 3 recommendations and had made improvements.

Why we inspected

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

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

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