Orchard House

Updated 2 June 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 completed by one inspector.

Service and service type

Orchard House 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. Orchard House is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

Inspection activity started on 25 April 2022 and ended on 29 April 2022. We visited the service on 25 April 2022.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. 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 all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people about their experience of living at the service and two relatives. We observed staff interactions with people in the communal areas. We spoke with six members of staff including the manager, administrator, the nominated individual, senior carer and carers. We spoke with a healthcare professional who was visiting the service. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care plans and all the medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including checks and audits

Updated 2 June 2022

About the service

Orchard House is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 15 people. The service provides support to people mainly living with Huntingdon’s Disease. At the time of our inspection there were 12 people using the service. The service comprised of one large adapted building and a bungalow in the grounds.

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

People told they were happy living at the service. Relatives told us they thought their loved ones were safe and well cared for.

Potential risks to people’s health and welfare had been assessed and staff were provided with guidance to mitigate the risks. Accidents and incidents were analysed to identify patterns and trends with action taken to prevent them happening again. The manager worked with the local safeguarding authority when concerns were raised to keep people safe.

Care plans contained information about people’s choices and preferences, they had been reviewed when people’s needs had changed. People’s health needs were assessed and reviewed using recognised tools following government guidance. People received their medicines as prescribed and were supported at the end of their lives.

People were supported by enough staff who had been recruited safely. Staff had received training appropriate to their role. Competency checks and supervisions were completed to support staff with their practice and knowledge. The provider had a complaints policy in place, this had been followed when complaints had been received.

Checks and audits had been completed and had been effective in identifying shortfalls. Action had been taken to rectify the shortfalls.

People were supported to have a balanced diet and were supported to eat their meals safely. People were referred to healthcare professionals when their needs changed, and guidance was followed.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported support them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

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

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 17 September 2019). 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

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 5 and 6 September 2019. Breaches of legal requirements were found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve safe care and treatment, good governance, safeguarding, person centred care and notifying CQC.

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe, Effective, Responsive and Well-led which contain those requirements.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has changed from Requires Improvement to Good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Orchard House 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.