The Elms

Updated 10 January 2019

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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.

The announced comprehensive inspection visit took place on 15 December 2018. The inspection team was made up of one CQC Inspector. We announced this inspection because it was a small group home and we wanted to check there would be someone available to talk with us. We also made telephone calls as part of our inspection up to 16 December 2018.

Before the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service. We had not asked the provider to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR). The PIR is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We were able to gather this information during our visit. We also reviewed information received from a local authority who commission the service for their views on the care and service given by the home.

During the inspection we met two people who live at The Elms and spoke with one of them about their support and their life both in and outside of the home. We observed and listened to how staff interacted with people and spoke with relatives of all four people living in the home in person or by phone. During the visit we spoke with the registered manager and two members of staff.

We looked at records related to all four people’s care and support. This included care plans, care delivery records and Medicine Administration Records (MARS). We also looked at records relating to the management of the service including: two staff files with reference to their recruitment and supervision; maintenance records; quality assurance records; training and staff meeting minutes.

Updated 10 January 2019

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

The Elms is registered to accommodate up to four people. At the time of our inspection four people with learning disabilities lived at The Elms; two of whom were away when we visited.

There was a registered manager in post. 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.

Staff cared about the well being of people living in the home. We received positive feedback from relatives and people about the kindness of staff.

People were supported by safely recruited staff and there were enough trained and experienced staff to support people in ways that suited them.

Staff understood how to identify and report abuse and were well supported in their roles. Staff received training to enable them to carry out their roles competently.

People were supported to make choices about how they spent their days. Staff had a good knowledge and understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and promoted independence and choice. Where people were not able to make a specific decision, staff acted in accordance with the MCA.

People’s health care needs were met and staff supported them to see healthcare professionals when appropriate. They were supported to take their medicines safely by staff who had received the appropriate levels of training.

People were supported to develop and maintain their interests and relationships both within the home and the local area.

People and their relatives knew how to make a complaint if the needed to and felt any concerns would be taken seriously and action taken straight away.

There were quality assurance systems in place to drive improvement and ensure the home offered a safe, effective, caring and responsive service.