The Orchards

Updated 21 December 2022

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. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by two inspectors.

Service and service type

The Orchards is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. The Orchards is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We looked at the information we held about the service.

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make.

We used the information gathered as part of monitoring activity that took place on 12 April 2022 to help plan the inspection and inform our judgements.

We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with seven people who lived at the home and four visiting relatives. We also spoke with ten members of staff.

The registered manager and a representative of the provider were available throughout the inspection.

During the inspection we were able to observe interactions between people and staff and care and support provided in communal areas. We also saw people taking part in a variety of activities.

We looked at a sample of records which related to people’s individual care and the running of the home. Records seen included five care and support plans, two staff recruitment files, quality assurance audits and survey results, health and safety records and minutes of meetings.

Updated 21 December 2022

About the service

The Orchards is a care home providing personal and nursing care. It is registered to provide care and accommodation to up to 45 people. The home specialises in the care of older people, people with complex healthcare needs and people living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 39 people living at the home and one person receiving respite care.

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

People lived in a home where the provider and registered manager led by example to create a homely, welcoming and fun environment which valued each person as an individual.

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.

People felt safe at the home and with the staff who supported them. Staff knew how to raise concerns and were confident they would be listened to.

People received their medicines safely from staff who had received specific training and had their competency assessed to make sure their practice remained safe.

An inclusive ethos was promoted which meant people were able to share their views, raise concerns and follow their own routines. This all helped people to remain in control of the support they received and their day to day lives.

Staff had an excellent knowledge of the people they cared for which enabled them to provide person centred care. People and visitors told us they were very happy with the care they received. Individual care was monitored and reviewed to make sure the care people received evolved as their needs and wishes changed.

People could be confident that at the end of their lives they would receive kind and compassionate care. Staff had the skills and experience to make sure people were comfortable and received dignified care at the end of their lives.

People told us they thought staff went the extra mile to support them. This was demonstrated in the support provided which included numerous examples of special events staff arranged for people.

People had access to a wide range of activities and social stimulation in accordance with their wishes and abilities. The home hosted social events which enabled people to continue to be valued members of their families and local community.

People were cared for by staff who felt well supported and proud to work at the home. The staff team were welcoming and friendly which created a happy atmosphere for people to live in.

People lived in a home where quality monitoring, learning and continuous improvement were embedded into the day to day running of the home. People’s views and wellbeing were central to all quality monitoring processes.

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 7 April 2018.)

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We received information which raised concerns about how risk was managed at the home. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe, responsive and well-led only.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

The overall rating for the service has not changed from Good based on the findings of this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for The Orchards on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.