- Care home
Elm Lea Residential Care Home
Assessment report published 24 September 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of inspection: 1 September 2026. Elm Lea Residential Care Home provides care and support for older people, the majority of whom were living with dementia. Some people also had physical disabilities. The service can support up to 15 people, and at the time of our inspection they were supporting 14 people.
The inspection was prompted in part by potential risks around choking. We reviewed these risks and did not find any concerns.
We assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed autistic people and people with a learning disability respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. We found that people had choice and control of their lives.
There were systems in place to learn and improve the service. Staff understood risks to people and had the knowledge and training to support people in a safe way. People were supported by enough staff, who had been recruited following safe recruitment practices.
Staff understood people’s needs well and used best practice guidance and legislation to provide good care. Staff supported people to have choice and control over their lives. Where people did not have the capacity to consent to decisions staff worked with people and their loved ones to ensure decisions were made in people’s best interests.
Staff were kind, caring and compassionate. People had access to meaningful activities which enriched their lives. The registered manager had good oversight of the service and ensured that checks and audits were completed to improve the quality of the service.
People's experience of this service
People and their loved ones gave us positive feedback about Elm Lea Residential Home and told us they were happy with the service. Comments included, “I walked into Elm Lea and it felt like home. It felt like somewhere you would want to be,” and “For me Elm Lea provides that homely feel.”
People and their relatives told us their loved ones were happy and well cared for at the service. Comments included, “I am over the moon with them. I think they are great,” and “The attention to care is over and above.” Staff had a good rapport with people and understood them well sharing jokes and stories comfortably. Relatives told us, “All the residents are always cheerful - it’s a sign of good things are if the other residents are happy,” and “He always says he’s happy and he likes everything.”
People and their loved ones told us their outcomes had improved being at the service. For example, one person’s diabetes had improved, and another person had been supported to gain weight. A relative told us, “She is much, much brighter for being there.” People were supported to make their own choices including about how they spent their time, and if they engaged in activities. Some people were supported to walk to the beach, the pub or the local shop. A relative told us, “It’s a home from home for him. He is routine and they know that. They are very kind to him.”
There were enough staff at the service to meet people’s needs. Staffing was reviewed by the registered manager and senior staff to ensure that it remained at the right level. Relatives told us, “There seems to be enough staff with the ratio of residents,” and “There's always someone around.”
Staff told us they felt proud to work at the service and worked to ensure everyone received person centred care. Staff told us, “The care we provide is lovely,” and “Staff are committed to doing everything they can to provide residents with the best possible care and support.” Relatives told us that staff were friendly and approachable, one told us, “Everyone is personable and friendly.”