CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Apple Tree Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from avoidable harm, with detailed risk assessments, safe medicines systems and enough staff. Inspectors found that some staff did not wear PPE correctly, and personal emergency evacuation plans had needed updating.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused inspection, although inspectors recorded that people and relatives spoke positively about staff's care and time.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused inspection, although care plans were described as personalised and reflected people's choices and activities.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found clear management and accountability arrangements, effective quality assurance systems and an active action plan. The provider had made the improvements recommended at the previous inspection.
What inspectors found, September 2022
Apple Tree Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found people were safe and well supported, but personal protective equipment was not always worn correctly.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 15 August 2022. One inspector and an Expert by Experience visited the home, reviewed five people's care records, checked health and safety documents, and spoke with people, relatives and staff.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe and Well-led were both rated Good. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines support, detailed care plans, appropriate safeguarding practice and effective quality checks. People and relatives spoke positively about the care and management.
Inspectors identified some issues. Some staff did not wear face masks correctly, and the provider was advised to improve its approach to managing infection outbreaks. Some recruitment records were not readily available, and staff said they needed more training on the new computer system. The previous recommendation about quality assurance had been addressed.
People felt safe
People said they felt safe. Staff understood safeguarding and risks linked to individual people's health needs.
“People were safe and protected from avoidable harm.” from the report
Enough staff
Inspectors found there were enough staff to meet people's needs. Staff said they had time to spend with people individually.
“Staff told us they felt there was enough staff in order for them to have quality time with people.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans recorded people's preferences, dislikes and choices. Staff could describe how individuals preferred their care and daily routines.
“People's care plans reflected their desires, dislikes and preferences.” from the report
Improved oversight
The quality assurance systems had improved since the previous inspection. The provider had an action plan to identify and address issues.
“Effective quality assurance systems were in place which had identified areas of improvement and development for the service.” from the report
PPE was not always used correctly
needs fixingSeveral staff members were seen wearing PPE incorrectly, including masks below their noses. The provider was recommended to improve its approach so infection outbreaks could be managed effectively.
“During the inspection, various members of staff were observed not wearing their personal protective equipment (PPE) correctly.” from the report
Further computer system training
minorStaff said they needed additional training to use the new computer system consistently and work from the same records.
“Staff told us they required further training on the new computer system to ensure staff worked consistently from the same records.” from the report
- 01What has changed since the inspection to make sure staff wear face masks and other PPE correctly?
- 02How would you manage an infection outbreak now, and what checks are used to make sure this works?
- 03How are staff being trained to use the new computer system consistently?
- 04Can you show how staff recruitment checks and supporting documents are now recorded?
- 05What progress has been made with updating the fire system, fire doors and personal emergency evacuation plans?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe and Well-led; the other key question ratings were not inspected and the overall rating used ratings from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 September 2022 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, September 2020
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and COVID-19 safety practice.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 27 August 2020. It looked only at infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic.
Inspectors were assured that the home was managing visitors, social distancing, shielding, admissions, protective equipment and testing safely. They also found that hygiene, the layout of the premises and the infection control policy supported safety.
The inspection did not give the home an overall quality rating. It was part of a national review looking for examples of good infection control practice.
Keeping relatives informed
Relatives were invited to join a social media group where the home shared regular updates.
“The registered manager had invited relatives to join a social media group where updates about the home were routinely shared.” from the report
Support with COVID-19 testing
Staff had training to test residents and tried to make testing a more comfortable experience. Everyone living at the home was successfully tested.
“Staff testing residents for COVID-19 had received training to do so and tried to make this a pleasant experience for people.” from the report
Clear staff guidance
The provider had created a booklet explaining COVID-19 and what staff were expected to do.
“The provider had produced an information booklet for staff with clear guidance about COVID-19 and what was expected of them in their roles.” from the report
Infection control arrangements
Inspectors were assured that the home was using protective equipment safely, promoting hygiene and keeping its infection control policy up to date.
“We were assured the provider was using personal protective equipment effectively and safely.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are relatives currently kept informed about important updates?
- 02How are residents supported if they need to have an infection test?
- 03What training do staff currently receive on infection prevention and control?
- 04How do you manage visitors and protect residents from infections?
- 05How often is the infection prevention and control policy reviewed?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control measures only; the home was inspected but not rated overall. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 September 2020 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Apple Tree Care Home
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- September 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2020Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- November 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2017GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2016
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 March 2016.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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