Elmbank Care Home

Updated 3 January 2019

The inspection:

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.

Inspection team:

This inspection was carried out by an inspector, an assistant inspector and an expert by experience who had experience of caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type:

Elmbank Care Home 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 service accommodates up to 35 people in one purpose built building. At the time of our visit there were 24 people using the service.

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:

This inspection was unannounced and took place on 27 November 2018.

What we did:

Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This 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. The provider returned the PIR and we took this into account when we made judgements in this report. We reviewed other information that we held about the service such as notifications. These are events that happen in the service that the provider is required to tell us about. We also considered the last inspection report and information that had been sent to us by other agencies. We also contacted commissioners who had a contract with the service and asked for their feedback.

During the inspection, we spoke with ten people who used the service and one relative of a person using the service. We also spoke with the registered manager, four care staff, the cook and two visiting health professionals.

We looked at the care records of three people who used the service. We observed how people were supported with their lunch-time meal and observed staff interactions with people throughout the day. The registered manager guided us throughout the premises. We also looked at records in relation to the management of the service such as staff recruitment files, quality assurance checks, staff training, and how the provider maintained the premises were maintained, including fire safety.

Updated 3 January 2019

What life is like for people using this service:

People continued to receive safe care. Staff have a good understanding of safeguarding procedures that should be followed to report harm and incidents of concern. Risk assessments are in place to manage potential risks within people’s lives, whilst also promoting their independence.

The staff recruitment procedures ensured that appropriate pre-employment checks are carried out to ensure only suitable staff worked at the service. Adequate staffing levels are in place.

Staff have training that provides them with the knowledge they need to perform their roles. The registered manager and senior carers support staff to put their training into practice.

Staff obtain people's consent before they provide care and support. Bed rails are used only if people consent to them being used to prevent them falling from their beds. People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.

There are procedures in place for evacuating non- able-bodied people who are in imminent danger. These are risk assessed and judged to be safe. However, the service did not have purpose made evacuation sheets that are recommended for use when evacuating non-able-bodied people. After we discussed this with registered manager they ordered evacuation sheets and arranged for staff to be trained in using the equipment.

Infection control procedures are in place but not all staff are familiar with these. People’s rooms and communal areas are clean. However, we saw two people using wheelchairs that were stained with dried food. Not all staff were clear who was responsible for cleaning people’s wheelchairs or what the appropriate cleaning method was. After we discussed this with the registered manager added the cleaning of wheelchairs to cleaning schedules and cleaning audits.

Staff treat people with kindness, dignity and respect and spent time getting to know them and their specific needs and wishes. Care plans reflected people’s likes and dislikes, and staff spoke with people in a friendly manner, addressing them by their preferred name. Our observations during inspection were of positive and friendly interactions between staff and people.

People or their relatives are involved in the planning of care and contribute to decisions about how they are supported. People and their relatives are involved in reviewing their care and making any necessary changes if they want.

A process is in place which ensures people can raise any complaints or concerns. Concerns are acted upon promptly and any necessary changes were made to care plans and communicated to staff.

The service continued to be well managed. The provider has systems in place to monitor the quality of the service. Actions are taken and improvements were made when required.

Rating at last inspection: Good (report published 24 March 2016).

About the service: Elmbank Care Home is a care home that was providing personal care to 24 older people at the time of the inspection.

Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection. The service remained rated Good overall.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.