Background to this inspection
Updated
9 December 2015
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.
This unannounced inspection took place on 12 November 2015. It was undertaken by one inspector and an expert by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using, or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Before our inspection we looked at all the information we held about the service. We looked at other information that we held about the service including notifications. A notification is information about events that the registered persons are required, by law, to tell us about.
During our inspection we spoke with nine people and three relatives. We also spoke with the registered manager and six staff who work at the home. These included one nurse, the clinical lead, three day care assistants, one activities co-ordinator and two members of the housekeeping staff. Throughout the inspection we observed how the staff interacted with people who lived in the service.
We looked at three people’s care records. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service including staff training records, audits, and meeting minutes.
Updated
9 December 2015
The Elms Residential and Nursing Home provides accommodation, personal care and nursing care for up to 37 older people including those living with dementia. Accommodation is located over two floors. There were 28 people living in the home when we visited.
This inspection was unannounced and took place on 12 November 2015. During our previous inspection on 13 May 2014, we found that all of the regulations that we looked at were being met.
The home had a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
The CQC monitors the operation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which applies to care services. Staff had received training and had an understanding to ensure that where people lacked the capacity to make decisions they were supported to make decisions that were in their best interests. People were only deprived of their liberty where this was lawful.
The provider had a robust recruitment process in place and staff were only employed within the home after all essential safety checks had been satisfactorily completed.
People’s privacy and dignity were respected at all times. Staff were seen to knock on the person’s bedroom door and wait for a response before entering and closing the door to protect people’s dignity when providing personal care.
People’s health, care and nutritional needs were effectively met. People were provided with a varied, balanced diet and staff were aware of people’s dietary needs. Staff referred people appropriately to healthcare professionals. They accepted and followed advice and guidance from other professionals. People received their prescribed medicines appropriately and medicines were stored in a safe way.
Care records we looked at and people who we spoke with showed us that wherever possible people were offered a variety of chosen social activities and interests.
The provider had an effective complaints process in place which was accessible to people, relatives and others who used or visited the service.
The provider had effective quality assurance systems in place to identify areas for improvement and appropriate action to address any identified concerns. Audits, completed by the provider and registered manager, showed the subsequent actions taken, which helped drive improvements in the home.