CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Elm Tree House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed through cleaning, protective equipment, testing, safe admissions and social distancing. They gave additional guidance about staff accessing separate changing facilities.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, March 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection-control arrangements, with limited staff changing space needing attention.
This was a targeted inspection on 01 February 2021. It looked only at infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic. The visit was announced.
Inspectors were assured that the home used protective equipment properly, kept the premises clean, arranged testing and followed safe procedures for admitting people. Staff also followed shielding and social distancing rules.
Visits could not take place inside because of the building layout. The home was reviewing ways to allow indoor visits. Inspectors gave additional guidance because staff had limited access to separate changing areas before their shifts.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give an overall quality rating or ratings for all five areas of care.
Infection control
Staff had training and guidance, used protective equipment correctly and had enough supplies. The home was kept clean through regular cleaning schedules.
“The home was kept clean and hygienic with regular cleaning schedules adhered to.” from the report
Testing and admissions
The home used available COVID-19 testing for people, staff and visitors. New admissions followed safe procedures and people received extra support to maintain their health and wellbeing.
“The service made effective use of available COVID-19 testing for both people, staff and visitors.” from the report
Contact with families
Although indoor visits were not possible at the time, staff supported people to keep in regular contact with family and friends using technology.
“Staff reassured people throughout the pandemic and provided them with the support they needed to maintain regular contact with family and friends through the use of technology.” from the report
Staff changing space
minorThe building had limited space and staff had limited access to separate changing areas before their shifts. Inspectors provided additional guidance about this.
“Due to limited space and entrance to the premises, staff had limited access to separate changing areas prior to the start of their shift.” from the report
Indoor visits
needs fixingVisits could not take place inside because of the layout of the premises. The provider and manager were reviewing possible ways to facilitate indoor visits.
“Due to the layout of the premises, visits could not currently take place inside.” from the report
- 01Can you now provide separate changing facilities for staff before their shifts?
- 02Can families visit indoors now, and what visiting arrangements are currently in place?
- 03How often are people, staff and visitors tested, and what happens after a positive result?
- 04What procedures do you use when admitting someone new to the home?
- 05How do you keep people in contact with family and friends when visits are restricted?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control under Safe; the service was inspected but not rated, and the report does not assess the other areas of care. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 March 2021 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, January 2019
Rated Good in all five areas; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care in a calm, well-managed home.
This was an unannounced inspection on 12 December 2018. One inspector spoke with people living in the home, a family member, managers and care staff. Records about care, medicines, staff training, recruitment, quality checks and the building were also reviewed.
Inspectors found people were safe and treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff knew people well and provided care based on their needs, choices and preferences. Medicines were managed safely, staffing levels were suitable, and people's health, eating and drinking needs were supported.
The home was described as calm and homely. Managers were seen as approachable and supportive, and quality checks were used to identify and make improvements. The home had been rated Good at the previous inspection in May 2016 and had maintained that rating.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw warm relationships between staff and people. People were treated with kindness, compassion and respect, and supported in a way that reflected their choices.
“People were treated with kindness, compassion and respect.” from the report
Safe medicines and staffing
Medicines were managed by trained staff and records were completed correctly. Inspectors also found enough suitably qualified and trained staff to meet people's needs.
“Medicines were stored and managed safely by appropriately trained staff.” from the report
Personalised records
Care plans were detailed, person centred and kept up to date. Staff could use electronic records and hand-held devices to access current information about people's needs.
“Care records were detailed and person centred and contained all relevant and up-to-date information regarding people's needs.” from the report
Good management checks
Managers and the provider carried out regular audits and checks. Action plans were used, and information from incidents, complaints and concerns helped improve the service.
“Effective quality assurance systems were in place and used effectively to monitor key aspects of the service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What further improvements to the dementia-friendly environment have been made since the inspection?
- 02How will activities be planned around my relative's preferences, particularly while the activities coordinator is new to the role?
- 03How often will my relative's care plan be reviewed, and how will family members be involved?
- 04How will you monitor my relative's food and fluid intake if they are at risk of poor nutrition, dehydration or choking?
- 05How will you support my relative to make decisions about end of life care and record their wishes?
This was an unannounced planned inspection that looked at the overall quality of the care home and rated all five key questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 January 2019 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 Tree House
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- January 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2016Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2015GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 14 December 2010.
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
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of St. Helens
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. 92 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“He developed a close affinity with Terence, spending time talking with him before he retired to bed and looking after his needs during the night.”
“It was clear that she genuinely cared and her warm approach really helped put our minds at ease.”
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.