Elizabeth House

Updated 18 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 18 February 2021 and was announced.

Updated 18 March 2021

About the service

Elizabeth House is a residential care home providing personal care to 22 people most of who are living with Korsakov’s syndrome and had a history of alcohol dependence.

Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of our inspection eight people were in receipt of personal care.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People told us they felt safe and happy living at Elizabeth House. People were supported to take positive risks which included being out in the community without support from staff. People told us there were enough staff to support them and meet their needs. People were involved in the recruitment of potential new staff, by meeting with them and being involved in making decisions about successful applicants. People received support with their medicines in their preferred way.

Before people moved into the service, managers completed an assessment of their needs to ensure that staff could meet these. When people’s needs changed, staff worked with healthcare professionals to review the person, and followed any guidelines implemented. People were supported by staff who had received training and support to enable them to provide effective care.

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.

We observed kind and caring interactions during our inspection. Staff knew people well and were able to meet their needs. People were supported to make decisions about their care and treatment. Staff treated people with dignity and respect.

Healthcare professionals who had visited the service told us they found staff to be person centred and treat people as individuals. People had person centred care plans, some people made their own entries in their care plans. People were supported to take part in a range of activities.

When people had concerns or complaints managers ensured they were responded to and resolved in line with the providers policy.

We observed a positive culture, focused on achieving good outcomes for people. Managers were open and transparent, and people and staff felt they were able to approach them at any time. Managers and staff were working with healthcare professionals to increase knowledge about Korsakoff’s.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 15 March 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.