Applegarth Care Home Ltd

Updated 15 June 2019

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, 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 was carried out by two inspectors.

Service and service type:

Applegarth Care Home is registered to provide accommodation and nursing or personal care. 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 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 16 May 2019.

What we did:

Before the inspection, we asked the provider to complete 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. We looked at the PIR and information we held about the service. This included notifications we had received. Notifications are certain events that providers are required by law to tell us about.

We spoke with four people, a relative, a visitor, three care staff, the chef, the activities coordinator, the provider and the registered manager. We also spoke with a visiting healthcare professional. During the inspection we looked at four people’s care plans, three staff files, medicine records and other records relating to the management of the service. We also contacted two other healthcare professionals for their opinions on the service.

Updated 15 June 2019

About the service:

Applegarth Care Home is a 20 bed care home in Maidenhead. Slough. Some people were living with dementia. At the time of our inspection the service supported 18 people.

People’s experience of using this service:

The provider’s quality assurance systems were not always effective, and some records were not always accurate or complete. People, relatives and staff were complimentary of the registered manager and the management team. The registered manager promoted a positive, transparent and open culture where staff worked well as a team. The provider worked well in partnership with other organisations.

People were safe. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs. Staff were aware of their responsibilities to report concerns and understood how to keep people safe. We saw that risks to people's safety and well-being were managed through a risk management process.

There were systems in place to manage safe administration and storage of medicines. People received their medicines as prescribed.

People had their needs assessed prior to receiving care to ensure staff were able to meet people’s needs. Staff worked with various local social and health care professionals. Referrals for specialist advice were submitted in a timely manner.

People were supported by staff that had the right skills and knowledge to fulfil their roles effectively. Staff told us they were well supported by the management team.

People were supported to meet their nutritional needs and maintain an enjoyable and healthy diet.

People were treated with respect and their dignity was maintained. People were also supported to maintain their independence. The provider had an equality and diversity policy which stated their commitment to equal opportunities and diversity. Staff knew how to support people without breaching their rights. The provider had processes in place to maintain confidentiality.

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.

People and their relatives knew how to complain, and a complaints policy was in place. People’s input was valued, and they were encouraged to feedback on the quality of the service and make suggestions for improvements. People had access to a wide range of individual, meaningful activities.

The service met the characteristics of Good in Safe, Effective, Caring and Responsive. The service was Requires Improvement in Well-Led. This is the services first rating under the new provider.

Follow up:

We will monitor all information received about the service to understand any risks that may arise and to ensure the next planned inspection is scheduled accordingly.

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