CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Elm Park Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, April 2022
Rated Good overall; inspectors found kind, safe care, but quality checks needed improvement.
Inspectors visited the home without warning on 14 and 29 March 2022. They spoke with people using the service, relatives and staff, observed care, and checked records, training and quality checks.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring and Responsive. Inspectors found enough staff, suitable risk assessments, kind and respectful care, personalised care plans, suitable activities and support with food, medicines and healthcare.
The home was rated Requires Improvement for Well-led. Quality checks had not found some cleaning and medicines record problems before the inspection. These issues were dealt with quickly, but the new systems still needed to become established in everyday practice. The overall rating was Good.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw staff treating people with kindness and compassion. Relatives also spoke positively about the care and staff relationships.
“Staff respected people's individuality and treated people with kindness and compassion.” from the report
Enough trained staff
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs in a timely way. Recruitment checks were in place, and staff received training and support.
“Through observations and speaking with staff we found there were enough staff available to meet people's needs in a timely way.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's preferences and views. Staff knew people well and supported their independence and interests.
“Staff knew people well and were keen to ensure care and support was delivered in a person centred way.” from the report
Activities and social contact
The home provided both group and one-to-one activities, based on people's interests. Relatives gave positive feedback about the social interaction available.
“The activity co-ordinators ensured that one to one activities were provided as well as group sessions.” from the report
Quick action during inspection
Problems with cleaning and medicines records found on the first day were addressed by the second day. The manager also put new systems in place.
“On the second day of inspection we found the service was clean and tidy.” from the report
Quality checks missed problems
needs fixingAudits had not identified some cleaning and medicines record problems before inspectors found them. The new monitoring systems still needed to become part of normal practice.
“We found infection control audits and medication audits had not identified these issues.” from the report
Cleaning and medicines records
needs fixingOn the first inspection day, some areas needed a deep clean and there were minor medicines documentation issues. These were corrected quickly, but the findings contributed to the Requires Improvement rating for Well-led.
“On the first day of inspection we found concerns in relation to infection control and medication management.” from the report
- 01How do you now check that cleaning is completed properly, especially in kitchenette areas and around equipment such as fridge seals, mops and brushes?
- 02What changes have you made to medicines records since the issues found on the first inspection day?
- 03How do you check that the new quality monitoring systems are working consistently?
- 04How will you make sure my relative's care plan reflects their current needs, choices and communication needs?
- 05What activities and one-to-one support would be available for my relative's interests and abilities?
This was the first rated inspection of the newly registered home and covered all five key questions, including infection prevention and control under Safe. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 April 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, November 2020
Elm Park Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found effective infection control during a COVID-19 outbreak.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 12 November 2020. It looked at infection prevention and control during a coronavirus outbreak, rather than assessing the whole service.
Inspectors found that the home was managing the outbreak effectively. Staff used personal protective equipment correctly, washed and sanitised their hands, cleaned frequently touched surfaces and understood the infection control guidance.
The home had information for visitors about safe visiting. New admissions had to test negative before admission and then isolate in their bedrooms for 14 days. The overall service and Safe question were recorded as inspected but not rated.
Visitor information
The home kept information at reception about safe visiting, infection control, handwashing and wearing face masks.
“This contained useful information about safe visiting during the pandemic including the visitor's policy, infection prevention and control procedure, donning and doffing information, handwashing and correct wearing of face masks.” from the report
Outbreak response
The home used the government testing scheme, which inspectors said helped it identify the outbreak and act quickly.
“The service was accessing the government testing scheme, and this had helped them to identify the outbreak and take action quickly and efficiently.” from the report
Staff infection control
Inspectors saw staff washing and sanitising their hands, using appropriate PPE and cleaning high-touch surfaces. Staff understood the infection control procedures and current guidance.
“During our inspection we saw staff washing and sanitising their hands frequently and using appropriate PPE in line with government guidelines.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What is your current visiting policy, and how do you explain it to families?
- 02What testing and isolation arrangements do you use when someone is newly admitted?
- 03How do you make sure staff continue to use PPE and follow hand hygiene guidance?
- 04How often are high-touch areas such as door handles and keypads cleaned?
- 05Who supervises staff on infection prevention and control arrangements?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during a coronavirus outbreak; it did not assess the other key questions or give an overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 November 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 Elm Park Care Home
3 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- November 2020Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- June 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good
- November 2019
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 4 November 2019.
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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
92 live-in carers within about an hour of Doncaster
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £980 to £1,260 a week. 77 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“Carla has been a god send with the implementation of bringing mum back home from respite care.”
“I can honestly say without Petros I don't believe he would have lived an extra 2 years”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.