Background to this inspection
Updated
24 March 2021
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are looking at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.
This inspection took place on 16 March 2021 and was announced.
Updated
24 March 2021
About the service: Elmwood is a care home that provides accommodation and nursing care for up to 70 older people. At the time of the inspection 67 people were using the service.
People’s experience of using this service:
¿ The home had safeguarding policies and procedures in place and staff had a clear understanding of these procedures.
¿ Appropriate recruitment checks took place before staff started work and there was enough staff available to meet people’s care and support needs.
¿ Risks to people had been assessed and reviewed regularly to ensure people’s needs were safely met.
¿ People were receiving their medicines as prescribed by health care professionals.
¿ The home had procedures in place to reduce the risk of the spread of infections.
¿ Assessments of people’s care and support needs were carried out before they moved into the home.
¿ Staff had received training and support relevant to people’s needs.
¿ People were supported to maintain a balanced diet.
¿ People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.
¿ Staff treated people in a caring and respectful manner.
¿ People and their relatives [where appropriate] had been consulted about their care and support needs.
¿ People were supported to participate in activities that met their needs.
¿ The home provided end of life care and support to people and their family members when required.
¿ The home had a complaints procedure in place. People and their relatives told us they knew how to make a complaint if they were unhappy with the service.
¿ The manager had effective systems in place to assess and monitor the quality of the service.
¿ The manager had worked in partnership with health and social care providers to plan and deliver an effective service.
¿ The provider took people and their relatives views into account through satisfaction surveys and meetings. Feedback from the surveys and meetings was used to improve on the service.
¿ Staff enjoyed working at the home and said they received good support from the manager. Management support was always available for staff when they needed it.
Rating at last inspection: Requires Improvement (Report was published on 24 January 2018).
Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on previous rating.
At our last inspection of the service 14 December 2017 we found a breach of regulations in that risks to people were not always managed safely. Improvement was required to ensure staff treated people with dignity, respect, care and compassion. Improvement was also required in the providers systems for monitoring the quality and safety of the service.
At this inspection we found the provider had taken steps to make sure that risks to people were managed safely, we saw staff treated people in a dignified and respectful manner and the provider’s systems for monitoring the quality and safety of the service were operating effectively.
Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.