The Elms Care Home

Updated 1 January 2021

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 care homes with outbreaks of coronavirus, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control practice was safe and the service was compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 8 December 2020 and was announced.

Updated 1 January 2021

About the service: The Elms is a residential care home. It provides personal care and support and/or nursing care for up to 86 older people, people living with dementia, a sensory impairment or a physical disability. The home has three separate units; Larchwood, residential care for people living with dementia; Woodlands for people with nursing needs and Oakwood, for people in the later stages of dementia who require nursing care. On the day of our inspection 73 people were living at The Elms.

People’s experience of using this service:

• The provider met the characteristics of ‘Good’ in all areas. This has improved from a rating of ‘Requires Improvement’ at the last inspection in June 2017. More information about this is in the full report.

• People were cared for by competent, skilled and experienced staff who knew how to keep them safe from harm and abuse. People’s rights were maintained and staff followed the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

• Staff were provided with a comprehensive induction and received ongoing training to support their professional development and provide care in line with national guidance.

• People lived in a clean and homely environment. Staff followed good infection control practices. The design and decoration of the home environment met the sensory, cognitive, mobility and social needs of the people who lived there.

• Lessons were learnt when things went wrong. The registered manager and staff worked together to make improvements to the service. Good working practices had been developed within the service and across organisational boundaries to support peoples’ health and wellbeing.

• People have their care needs and preferences assessed and were enabled to have choice and control over their lives and were encouraged to maintain their independence. There were enough staff to provide care and support to people to meet their individual needs.

• People were provided with a nutritious, varied and balanced diet. Their risk of dehydration, malnutrition and obesity were closely monitored by staff.

• People were supported to follow interest and hobbies of their choice and maintain links with the local community.

• People were treated with dignity, respect and compassion by kind, caring and supportive staff. People were enabled to share their wishes and preferences for their end of life care. Staff supported people to have a pain free and dignified death.

• People and their relatives could share their experience of the service; both positive and negative. Any issues or complaints shared were investigated, resolved and responded to in a timely manner.

• The manager was an approachable and visible leader. The manager and their team were committed to improving the quality and standards of care people received. Links were being built with the local community and partner agencies. There is a good governance framework, leading to improvements in the service.

The service met the characteristics of Good in all areas that we inspected. More information is in the full report.

Rating at last inspection: The Elms was last inspected on 24 and 25 April 2017 (report published 23 June 2017) and was rated as requires improvement overall.

Why we inspected: This was a scheduled inspection based on previous rating of requires improvement.

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