Appletree Court Care Home

Updated 31 March 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 the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 11 March 2021 and was announced.

Updated 31 March 2021

About the service:

Appletree Court Care Home is a care home that was registered to provide nursing and personal care for up to 77 people. At the time of the inspection 41 people were using the service.

People’s experience of using this service:

People told us they felt safe and staff knew how to report concerns. Risks to people's health and care needs were assessed and effectively managed.

There were sufficient numbers of staff to support people. However, we received mixed views from people and relatives about this and agency usage.

People were supported to take their medicines as prescribed. Medicines were stored in a safe way.

Lessons were learnt following incidents. The service was clean and infection control was managed well and in line with the providers policy and procedures.

The design and décor of the service was not always developed and adapted around people's needs. We have made a recommendation about this.

Staff completed an induction and training relevant to their post. Staff received opportunities to review their work and development.

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's needs were assessed, and care was reviewed to ensure people's needs were met.

Nationally-recognised best practice assessments were used to help monitor people's health. People had access to healthcare professionals.

People were supported to have food appropriate to their needs.

People were treated with dignity and respect. People were involved in decisions about their care and supported to be as independent as possible.

Relatives and staff all felt the service had improved since the last inspection. They felt positively about the registered manager and felt they could contribute to the running of the service.

Monitoring systems were in place and the provider was proactive in supporting the service and worked in partnership with other organisations and professionals.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update:

At the last inspection the service was rated Requires Improvement (report published June 2018). The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection.

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.