Archived: Cherry Tree House

Updated 12 February 2016

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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

We visited the home on 18 and 28 September 2015. Our visit was unannounced and the inspection team consisted of one inspector.

Before our inspection we looked at all of the key information we held about the service. This included notifications the provider had sent us. A notification is information about important events, which the provider is required to send us by law.

During our inspection we spoke with four people who lived at the home and one person’s relative. We were also provided with written comments about the service from six people’s relatives. We spoke with the registered manager and four care staff and one of the provider’s company directors. We observed how staff provided people’s care and support in communal areas and we looked at three people’s care records and other records relating to how the home was managed. For example, medicines records, meeting minutes and checks of quality and safety.

People at Cherry Tree House were living with a range of learning disabilities. We used staff and information in people’s care plans to help us communicate with and understand the  experiences of people who could not talk with us.

Updated 12 February 2016

This inspection was unannounced and took place on the 18 and 28 September 2015.

Cherry Tree House provides accommodation and personal care for up to six adults with learning disabilities. There was a registered manager at this service. 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.

At our last inspection in November 2014 people who use the service, staff and visitors were not necessarily protected against the risks of unsafe or unsuitable premises in respect of the home’s garden. Following our inspection, the provider told us about the action they had taken to address this.

At this inspection people were happy living at the service and they were protected from the risk of harm or abuse. People received care from a consistent staff team, who were properly recruited and deployed. People’s medicines were safely managed and staff supported people safely without imposing unnecessary restrictions on their freedom and choices. This was done in a way which met with recognised practice guidance and helped to mitigate any risks to people from their health conditions or their environment.

The home was clean, safe and well maintained. Arrangements for the servicing and maintenance of equipment, emergency contingency planning and fire safety arrangements at the premises helped to keep people safe.

People were supported to maintain and improve their health and nutritional status. Staff understood people’s health conditions and their learning disability related care and treatment needs. Staff promoted a holistic approach to people’s care and they worked in partnership with people to support their choices and wishes for their care.

People were supported to access external health professionals when they needed to and staff followed their instructions for people’s care when required. Staff consulted external health and social care professionals on people’s behalf when necessary. People’s health related care plans were produced and reviewed in collaboration with external health professionals. Staff consulted with people and helped them to understand their health needs and related care requirements in a way that was meaningful to them.

Staff received the training, support they needed. This included bespoke training for staff to support people with complex health needs when required. Staff development needs were regularly reviewed with them in relation to the service aims and objectives and people’s care requirements.

Staff understood and followed the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) to seek people’s consent or appropriate authorisation before they received care. This included authorisation by the relevant authority for any restrictions to people’s freedom that were deemed as necessary to keep them safe; known as Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).

People received care from a kind, caring staff team who treated them with respect and promoted their rights. Staff had strong, caring and supportive relationships with people and their relatives. Staff worked in an inclusive manner and people and their families felt they belonged and mattered.

Staff understood, communicated with and supported people in ways that were helpful to them. People’s views were important to staff and used to influence management decisions and the running of the service. Staff were motivated and supported to regularly review their practice and seek new and innovative ways of improving people’s care and support.

The home was consistently well managed and records to account for this were accurately maintained and safely stored. Clearly defined governance and communication systems helped to inform and improve the quality and safety of people’s care when required.

Staff understood their roles and responsibilities for people’s care and safety. They were proud to work at the home and promoted a positive and inclusive culture there.

Timely partnership working with relevant external health and social care professionals helped to ensure that people received the right care at the right time.