Notrees

Updated 1 March 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 21 February 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection.

Updated 1 March 2022

This inspection took place on 24 January 2019 and was unannounced.

Notrees is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Notrees accommodates up to 16 older people in one adapted building. There were 15 people at the service at the time of inspection, some of whom were living with dementia.

At our last inspection, we rated the service good. At this inspection, we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

The registered manager had systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of the home. This included audits, improvement plans and gaining feedback from people and staff. These measures were effective in promoting improvements within the service.

There were enough suitably qualified staff in place to meet people’s needs. The provider had robust procedures in place to monitor recruitment, training, induction and ongoing support of staff. This helped to ensure staff were effective in their role.

Staff were knowledgeable about people’s needs and were caring in their approach. People were treated with dignity and the care they received reflected their preferences. When people received care at the end of their lives, they were given compassionate support which reflected their needs and preferences.

People’s care plans reflected how they would like to receive care. The registered manager had developed these plans using information from people, relatives and healthcare professionals.

Staff understood the need to gain appropriate consent to care. 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 supported this practice.

There were a range of activities which people could take part in and people were able to give feedback to the registered manager to suggest new things to do. The provider had established links with the local community which helped people feel connected to their local area.

Risks associated with people’s health and wellbeing were assessed and mitigated. The registered manager analysed incidents and accidents to establish how the risk of reoccurrence could be reduced.

Risks associated with the environment were well managed to reduce risk of harm. There were plans in place to protect people from harm in the event of an emergency.

The provider had safeguarding policies and procedures in place which helped to reduce the risk of harm to people. Where safeguarding concerns were raised, the provider worked in partnership with local safeguarding teams to help keep people safe.

People were supported appropriately with their nutrition and healthcare. Where risks were identified, the appropriate professionals were consulted and their recommendations were incorporated into people’s care.

The home was a clean, hygienic environment, which was suitable for people’s needs. People had access to outside space and were encouraged to use the garden when possible.

There were safe systems in place to manage people’s medicines.

There were systems in place to respond appropriately when people had complaints or concerns.