Blue Cedars

Updated 20 February 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 22 January 2021 with a site visit and was announced. We completed a virtual follow up review of information with the Registered Manager on 04 February 2021.

Updated 20 February 2021

Blue Cedars is a care home registered to accommodate six people with Learning Disabilities. There were six people living there at the time of our inspection. The home had two floors; each person had their own bedroom and en suite bathroom. On the ground floor there was a kitchen, dining room and lounge. All doors were wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs, and people had access to a rear garden.

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated Good.

The home continued to ensure people were safe. There were enough suitable staff to meet people’s needs. Risk assessments were carried out to enable people to retain their independence and receive care with minimum risk to themselves or others. People received their medicines safely. People were protected from abuse because staff understood how to keep them safe, including more senior staff understanding the processes they should follow if an allegation of abuse was made. All staff informed us concerns would be followed up if they were raised.

People continued to receive effective care. People who lacked capacity had decisions made in line with current legislation. Staff received training to ensure they had the skills and knowledge required to effectively support people. People’s healthcare needs were met. People were supported to eat and drink in line with their nutrition assessments. People were supported to have maximum choice and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The home continued to provide a caring service to people. We observed that staff were kind and patient. People’s privacy and dignity was respected by staff and their cultural or religious needs were valued. People were involved in decisions about the care and support they received. People’s choices were always respected and staff encouraged choice for those who struggled to communicate with them.

The home remained responsive to people’s individual needs. Care and support was personalised to each person which ensured they were able to make choices about their day to day lives. People were supported to follow their own activity programmes. These considered people’s interests and reflected people’s preferences. Relatives told us they knew how to complain and there were a range of opportunities for them to raise concerns with the registered manager and designated staff.

The home continued to be well led. Relatives and staff spoke highly about the management. The registered manager continually monitored the quality of the service and made improvements in accordance with people’s changing needs.