We carried out a review of the data available to us about CTTM Elmfield Cottage on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about CTTM Elmfield Cottage, you can give feedback on this service.
CCTM Elmfield Cottage is a residential care home providing personal care and accommodation for younger people with learning disabilities, mental health conditions and sensory impairments.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
The service was a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties registered to support up to five people. Five people were using the service during our inspection visit. There were no identifying signs to indicate it was a care home. Staff were discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent. Staff supported people in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in place supported this practice.
People felt safe living at the home and safeguarding procedures were in place to protect them. Staff were recruited safely, and enough staff were on duty to provide safe care during our visit. Staff had the skills they needed to support people effectively.
Risks associated with people's care and support were assessed. Detailed risk management plans helped staff to manage and reduce risks. People were involved in planning and reviewing their care and support. Care plans contained detailed information and clearly reflected people’s individual preferences for how they wished their care and support to be delivered.
People made every day decisions for themselves and took part in a range of social activities to maintain interests which were important to them to lead meaningful lives. People received responsive and personalised care from staff who knew them well. Individuality and diversity was recognised. People’s feedback was encouraged, and their views and suggestions were acted on.
People’s right to privacy was respected, their dignity was maintained, and people were encouraged to be independent. People liked the food, and their nutrition and hydration needs were met. People received their medicines as prescribed. People had access to health professionals when needed to maintain their health and wellbeing.
The home was clean and tidy during our visit. The décor was continually reviewed and updated to ensure the home was a nice place for people to live.
People were happy with the service they received and how the service was run. The provider and their management team demonstrated commitment to learning lessons when things went wrong. Governance systems to monitor the quality and safety of the service were effective. People felt comfortable raising concerns with staff and managers at the home.
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 21 February 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
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.
This inspection was undertaken on 24 January 2017 and was unannounced.
The provider of Elmfield Cottage is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to five people who may have learning disabilities. At the time of our inspection three people were living at the home.
At our last inspection, the service was rated Good.
There was a registered manager in post who was supported by a deputy manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People who used the service were safe as the provider, registered manager and support staff had a clear understanding of the risk associated with people’s needs as well as activities people chose to do. There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff, who had a good understanding of protecting people from the risk of abuse and harm and their responsibilities to report suspected abuse.
Medicines were administered by staff that had received training to do this. The provider had procedures in place to check that people received their medicines as prescribed to effectively and safely meet their health needs.
Where appropriate, include the following about Mental Capacity Act People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.
People told us they were supported by staff to make their own choices and decision’s about their care and support. We saw people were actively involved in how their care was planned and their needs met.
People told us they had positive relationships with the staff supporting them. Staff assisted people in a number of ways to maintain their health and wellbeing such as choosing menus; cooking and helping them access health and social care services.
People’s needs were assessed and changes communicated to staff, who responded appropriately. People’s interests and preferences were documented and they were encouraged to pursue social events and areas of interests of their own choice.
Effective quality assurances processes were in place to ensure continuous improvement of the service provided. People's views and comments were listened to and used as part of the quality assurance process to look to make continuous improvements.
The inspection took place on 5 June 2015 and was unannounced.
Elmfield Cottage is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to five people with learning disabilities. At the time of this inspection four people lived at the home.
The manager was appointed in January 2015 and is currently registering with us. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People felt supported by staff, who knew how to keep people safe and were aware of their support needs. Staff were aware of how they would identify and report potential harm and abuse. There were sufficient staff on duty to respond to people’s health and welfare needs. Staff had received specialist training in assisting to meet and support people with their behaviour which challenges.
Staff respected people’s rights to make their own decisions and choices about their care and treatment. Staff knew how to communicate with people and provided reassurance when people became anxious and or had changed their minds when making decisions and choices.
Where people did not have the mental capacity and received care to meet their safety and wellbeing (which may be restricting their liberty) the manager had made applications to the supervisory body. By taking these actions the manager made sure people’s liberty and freedom were not being unlawfully restricted.
People were offered choices regarding their food. Staff encouraged healthy eating to support and effectively meet people’s individual eating and drinking requirements. Staff showed us how they helped one person keep to their weight loss diet, as recommended by the dietician.
Staff asked people for their permission before entering their rooms and asked whether they wanted to join in social events. People liked living at the home and we saw that there was lots of laughter and jokes during conversations between staff and people. Staff showed they cared for people who lived at the home and that positive relationships had been formed.
People told us that they knew how to make a complaint but they had not needed to. They felt able to discuss any concerns with either staff or the manager. These were acted upon and recorded.
Staff were clear on their roles and felt supported by the management team. We saw systems were in place to monitor the quality of care. The acting manager indicated that they had a clear vision on how they wanted to lead the service.
We saw that staff helped and supported people. We saw that people had received care that met their individual needs.
People living there were being treated with diginity and respect.
Medicines were stored and administered appropriately
We found that there were regular audits and quality checks. We also saw that the provider learnt from incidents to improve the quality and effectiveness of the care they delivered.