Background to this inspection
Updated
10 April 2019
The inspection: We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team: The inspection team consisted of two inspectors and an expert by experience.
Service and service type: Orchard House is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. Orchard House took the decision to amend their registration and no longer provide nursing care.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection: The inspection was unannounced. This meant the provider and staff did not know we would be visiting.
What we did: Prior to the inspection we checked information we already held about the service.
The provider had submitted a Provider Information Return. Providers are required to send us key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.
We spoke with 12 people, seven relatives, the registered manager, an administrator, a cook, an activities coordinator, four care staff, and a community care officer.
We checked three care plans and three staff recruitment files. We also checked a variety of records relating to the quality and safety of the service.
Updated
10 April 2019
About the service: Orchard House is a care home which is registered to provide personal care and accommodation for up to 52 people, some of whom are living with dementia. There were 38 people using the service at the time of the inspection.
The home had changed their registration since the last inspection and were no longer providing nursing care, which had caused the reduction in the number of people using the service since we last visited.
People’s experience of using this service: People and their relatives told us they were happy with the care they received at Orchard House. Staff were described as warm and friendly, and the registered manager was approachable and supportive.
There were systems in place to maintain the safety of people and checks were in place on the premises and equipment.
The mealtime experience we observed lacked a social atmosphere and staff appeared task focused. We were advised this might have been due to the disruption of the building work which had displaced people and possibly interfered with routines. The manager assured us they would address this.
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.
We observed numerous kind and caring interactions between staff and people. People were treated with dignity and respect.
Care plans were person centred and people had access to a variety of activities. People’s social needs and interests were considered.
The registered manager had a clear focus on continuous improvement. Systems were in place for the monitoring of the quality of the service and records held by the manager were extremely well organised and easy to navigate.
Rating at last inspection: Good (published July 2016).
Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection which was based upon the previous rating.
Follow up: We will continue to monitor the service to ensure that people receive safe, compassionate and high-quality care. Further inspections will be planned for future dates.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk