Elton Park Care Home

Updated 1 June 2023

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 undertaken by an inspector.

Service and service type

Elton Park 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. Elton Park 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 provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post. The previous registered manager deregistered on 10 February 2023. The service was being managed by a manager from another of the provider’s services, recruitment was ongoing for a permanent manager.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. 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 4 people who used the service and observed the care and support provided, such as in the communal areas, during lunch and medicine administration. We spoke with 6 staff members including the manager, senior care, care and catering staff. We also spoke briefly with the deputy manager. We spoke with the nominated individual who is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

We reviewed 3 people’s care records, medicine records, 3 staff personnel files, training records and records associated with the governance of the service including audits, complaints and health and safety checks.

Updated 1 June 2023

About the service

Elton Park Care Home is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 35 people. The service provides support to older people in one adapted building over 2 floors, the ground floor and first floor. Only the ground floor was being used when we inspected. There was another floor which was used for offices. At the time of our inspection there were 12 people using the service, some people were living with dementia.

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

Since our last inspection the registered manager had left the service. There had been another manager in post who had also left. At the time of our inspection the service was being managed by a manager from another of the provider’s locations. The provider was actively recruiting to the manager post.

We received positive feedback about the manager and how improvements were being made. The provider and manager understood the improvements needed and there was an action plan in place which was kept under review. Not all of the improvements had been fully implemented and embedded in practice. For example, the records maintained to show the support people received on a daily basis had improved but still needed further work. Systems put in place to learn lessons had not been effective to reduce future risks. We were assured this had now been addressed.

Systems were in place to assess and reduce the risks of abuse and avoidable harm. Improvements had been made and needed to be sustained. Staff were available when people needed them, and staff were recruited safely. We have recommended the provider keep the staff levels under continuous review, when more people move into the service and people's needs change. People were provided with the medicines when needed and audits were undertaken to identify shortfalls and address them.

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 received support from staff who were caring and who promoted their choice, privacy and independence.

Improvements had been made in the provision of staff training and these were ongoing.

A programme of redecoration was being undertaken. The service was visibly clean and infection procedures followed. People were supported to have visitors which reduced the risks of isolation.

People’s care records identified the care and support required to meet people’s assessed needs. This included people’s end of life decisions. People were supported to access health professionals where required. People’s dietary needs were being assessed and met. There was a programme of activities to reduce the risks of boredom.

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 inadequate (published 15 September 2022) and there were breaches of regulation. 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.

At our last inspection we recommended that the provider seek guidance and advice relating to people with choices of meals which could be understood. At this inspection we found the provider had acted on the recommendation and improvements made.

This service has been in Special Measures since 15 September 2022. During this inspection the provider demonstrated that improvements have been made. The service is no longer rated as inadequate overall or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is no longer in Special Measures.

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 02 and 03 August 2022. Breaches of legal requirements were found in relation to safe care and treatment, the need for consent, good governance, staffing and safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatment. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve.

We undertook this comprehensive inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

The overall rating for the service has changed from inadequate to requires improvement based on the findings of this inspection. The provider is no longer in breach of regulations, however, not all improvements had been fully implemented and embedded in practice. Therefore, there were still improvements needed. Please see the safe and well-led sections of this full report.

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