Background to this inspection
Updated
2 February 2022
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 COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.
This inspection took place on 10 January 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection.
Updated
2 February 2022
This unannounced comprehensive inspection took place on 14 and 16 August 2018.
Cherry Tree Lodge is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to 20 people . People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
At our previous inspection of the home, published in October 2017, we found the service was not compliant with The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and we agreed with the registered manager some other minor improvements. At this inspection the provider had complied with our requirement and made improvements in the areas agreed.
The registered manager/provider had worked at the service for many years. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People were treated with kindness, respect and compassion, and their privacy and dignity was upheld.
People were protected from neglect and abuse. Risks were assessed and people were supported to stay safe with the least possible restriction on their freedom. Pre-employment checks were followed to ensure candidates were suitable to work in a care setting.
People’s physical, mental health and social needs were comprehensively assessed, and care and support was planned and delivered in a personalised way to meet those needs.
We identified at the inspection that fire safety was compromised by fire doors not being closed. The registered manager took immediate action, purchasing equipment so that doors could be left open at people’s request.
People, and where appropriate their families, were involved in decisions about their care and support.
Relatives and friends could visit when they wished without notice.
The service had made positive links with the local community.
People had access to meaningful activities and were encouraged to follow interests and hobbies.
People were involved in menu choices. Mealtimes were relaxed and sociable occasions, with people receiving the support they needed to eat and drink at their own pace. Dietary needs were assessed and referrals made to dieticians or speech and language therapists as appropriate.
People were supported with their health care needs.
There were sufficient appropriately trained staff on duty to support people in a person-centred way. The service used regular agency staff, whom people knew, to fill any gaps in the rota.
Staff were supported through training, supervision and appraisal to perform their roles effectively.
Staff were valued, respected and supported to develop the service, through supervision, team meetings and ad hoc conversations with the management team. The service was open to the concerns of staff, whether through whistleblowing, supervision and staff meetings, or staff surveys.
Accidents, incidents or near misses were recorded and monitored for developing trends.
The premises were clean and well maintained. Individual bedrooms were furnished and decorated according to people’s preferences.
People were protected from the spread of infection.
Medicines were stored securely and managed safely.
The service sought to support people to have a comfortable and dignified death when nearing end of life.
Clear information about how to make a complaint was available for people. Complaints were taken seriously and investigated openly and thoroughly.
The service worked in partnership with health and social care professionals and other organisations, to ensure people’s care needs were met and that staff kept up with good practice.
The provider had quality assurance processes in place, which helped to maintain standards and drive improvement.