We carried out a review of the data available to us about Orchard House Care Home 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 Orchard House Care Home, you can give feedback on this service.
Orchard House Care Home is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 6 older people, young adults and people with dementia. They also provide respite accommodation. At the time of our inspection there were 6 people using the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Improvements had been made since the last inspection. Governance systems were now in place and effective in monitoring the quality and safety of the service. Timely action had been taken where shortfalls had been identified. The provider visited the service on a regular basis to ensure they had oversight.
Risks to people were now assessed and action had been taken to ensure risks were mitigated where possible. Improvements had been made with regards to the recording of checks used to ensure the service was safe.
Medicines were stored, administered and recorded safely. Guidance for staff was now in place for medicines that were prescribed as and when required.
Thorough recruitment processes were now in place and followed. All appropriate pre-employment checks were evident and completed prior to new staff commencing employment.
People and relatives spoke highly of the staff team and there was enough staff on duty to meet people’s needs.
People were safe living at Orchard House Care Home. There was a warm, friendly, relaxed atmosphere and positive relationships existed between people, relatives and staff.
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 and update
The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 16 December 2021) and there was a breach of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
Why we inspected
We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 21 October 2021. A breach of legal requirements was found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve their records keeping and governance processes.
We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the key questions Safe and Well-led which contain those requirements.
For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Orchard House 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.
Orchard House Care Home is a care home providing personal care to up to six people, some of whom may be living with dementia. At the time of this inspection, six people were living at the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Systems and processes in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service provided had not always been effective in highlighting shortfalls. Quality assurance processes had not been established in some areas.
Government guidance in relation to the management of COVID 19 within care homes had not always been followed fully. We have signposted the provider to appropriate resources.
Records in relation to fire safety checks and fire drills, accident and incident monitoring and risks relating to people specific medical conditions had not always been recorded appropriately. Regular servicing of equipment had taken place.
Safe recruitment processes were in place, but thorough records were not always kept.
Staff had completed medicines training; however, medicine records were not always thoroughly completed. We have made a recommendation around the recording of medicines.
Person-centred care plans were in place but some lacked details. We have made a recommendation in relation to care plan records.
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. Records in relation to best interest decisions were not always in place. We have made a recommendation around records relating to the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
People told us they felt safe living at the service and were very happy with the care provided. There was enough staff to respond to people’s needs in a timely manner.
Staff had received training to ensure they had the appropriate skills and knowledge. Staff were observed to be kind, caring and compassionate and people we spoke with confirmed this. People’s independence was promoted, and strong relationships had been developed between professionals and staff.
People, relatives and staff spoke positively of the management team and the culture they had created at the service. Staff felt their views were listened to, but some staff felt action was not always taken to address their concerns.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 22 July 2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the date the location registered with CQC.
We looked at infection prevention and control (IPC) 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.
Enforcement
We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to discharge our regulatory enforcement functions required to keep people safe and to hold providers to account where it is necessary for us to do so.
We have identified breaches in relation to good governance and recording keeping at this inspection.
Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.
Follow up
We will request an action plan for the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.