We carried out a review of the data available to us about Sutton in the Elms 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 Sutton in the Elms, you can give feedback on this service.
We found the following examples of good practice
Managers and staff understood the importance of keeping in contact with people’s family/friends during period of lockdown due to Covid-19. They made regular phone calls to let family/friends know how people were and to reassure them that staff were upmost to keep people happy and well-cared for.
The service had designated ‘Covid Marshals’ on each shift. They oversaw visits, ensured PPE (personal protective equipment) stations were stocked, and kept high-risk areas of the premises clean.
Sutton in the Elms is a 42-bedded residential care and nursing home. It specialises in the care of older and younger people who have needs relating to dementia, mental health, physical disability, and sensory impairment. At the time of our inspection there were 42 people using the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People using the service received person-centred care from a skilled, caring and well-led staff team. A relative said, “The care is very centred on the individual, which is no mean feat.” The service was well-staffed, and people’s needs were promptly met.
People and relatives made many positive comments about the staff team and gave examples of their dedication to the people they supported. A relative said, “They give off an air of wanting to be there and do what they are doing. They are fantastic, always kind, always calm.”
The premises were spacious, well-decorated, and clean. People had access to a range of indoor and outdoor communal areas and gardens. People’s own bedrooms were personalised in the way they wanted them.
People’s needs were assessed before they came to the service and staff put care plans and risk assessments in place to ensure people had safe care and support. The service’s nurses and care workers, in collaboration with external healthcare professionals, identified and met people’s healthcare needs.
People and relatives said the service’s activity co-ordinators provided an impressive range of group and one-to-one activities and events. A relative told us, “They had a summer of love day and dressed up as hippies and had a lot of fun. We were sent pictures of [family member] having a great time."
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported support them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People, relatives and staff spoke highly of the registered manager and care manager who they said listened to them and acted on their ideas and suggestions.
The provider was committed to delivering high-quality care and had systems in place to monitor all aspects of the service. Managers and staff were continuously learning, developing and shaping the service with the involvement of people and relatives.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Why we inspected
Sutton in the Elms was registered with us on 15 January 2020 and this was our first inspection of the 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 until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
Sutton in the Elms is a 40-bedded residential care and nursing home. It specialises in the care of older and younger people who have needs relating to dementia, mental health, physical disability, and sensory impairment. At the time of our inspection there were 29 people using the service.
People's experience of using this service and what we found
Staff knew how to minimise risk to people and keep them safe, but improvements were needed to care records to ensure care was provided as planned. People did not always have care plans and risk assessments in place when they started using the service.
Some improvements were needed to the way medicines were managed to ensure records were complete and medicines safely stored.
There was enough staff on duty to meet people’s needs. The service had a well-being strategy and provided staff with ongoing support and advice.
The premises were clean, fresh and tidy. All staff wore appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment). There were good systems in place to prevent and control the spread of infection.
Most people and relatives were satisfied with the quality of care provided. Some relatives said they would like better communications with the service, particularly regarding visiting arrangements.
The manager, who is currently applying for registration with CQC, was helpful and kind and people and relatives spoke highly of them.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Why we inspected
This was a focused inspection based on concerns we received about the service. We received concerns in relation to people's care. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only.
We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them.
This service was registered with us on 15 January 2020 and this was its first inspection. The last rating for the service under the previous provider was Good published on 17 December 2019.
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.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Sutton in the Elms on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.