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 looked at staffing pressures and infection prevention and control. They were assured about PPE, testing, hygiene, visiting arrangements and the management of possible outbreaks.
- 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, January 2022
Elm Tree House rated Good overall; inspectors found effective infection control and visiting arrangements, but Safe was inspected without a new rating.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 7 January 2022. Inspectors looked mainly at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements, and whether COVID-19-related staffing pressures affected care.
The home was following guidance on visitors, personal protective equipment, testing, cleanliness and infection outbreaks. Inspectors were also assured that people could receive visitors and continue to access the community safely.
The overall rating was Good. Safe was inspected but not rated because inspectors only looked at staffing and infection control. The report does not give new ratings for the other questions.
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had effective arrangements for preventing and managing infections, including the use of PPE, testing and hygiene measures.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Safe visiting
The home had arrangements to help people see and speak to relatives and friends while managing infection risks.
“The service had systems in place for safe visiting to allow people to see and speak to their friends and relatives.” from the report
Support with healthcare
People continued to receive support to access healthcare, including arrangements for attending hospital safely.
“Staff continued to support people to access healthcare, and arrangements were in place should people need to attend hospital safely.” from the report
Support during isolation
Plans were in place for people who might need to self-isolate, including extra support for anyone who might find isolation difficult.
“For those people who may struggle with isolation additional support would be provided.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What measures are currently in place if COVID-19 or other infection risks create staffing pressures?
- 02How are visitors currently supported to visit safely, and how are people supported to spend time in the community?
- 03How does the home support someone who needs to self-isolate and may find isolation difficult?
- 04How does the home make sure staff and visiting professionals meet the COVID-19 vaccination requirements or have a valid exemption?
- 05What arrangements are in place if someone needs to attend hospital?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; Safe was inspected but not rated and the other questions were not assessed in this report. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 January 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, January 2020
Elm Tree House was rated Good; inspectors found safe, person-centred care and strong management.
Inspectors visited on 20 and 23 December 2019. The first day was unannounced. They spoke with one person using the service, two relatives and four staff. They also reviewed care records, medicine records, recruitment files and management records, and observed care.
The home supported up to six people with learning disabilities, and three people lived there at the time. Inspectors found that risks were managed, medicines were handled safely, the home was clean, and staffing levels met people's needs.
People were treated with kindness and respect. Their choices, routines and communication needs were recorded and followed. People were supported with health care, food, activities and contact with relatives.
This was the first inspection since the service registered in October 2018. The home was rated Good overall and Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led.
Risks managed
Inspectors found that individual risks were clearly assessed and that staff had guidance on keeping people safe while respecting their choices.
“Risks to individuals and staff were identified and well managed.” from the report
Safe medicines support
Staff were trained and checked as competent to administer medicines. There were also arrangements to support safe access to medicines in the community.
“People received their medicines safely. Staff were competent and confident with supporting people with their medicines.” from the report
Choice and respect
People were listened to and involved in decisions about their care. Their individual preferences and routines were respected.
“During the inspection we saw that people were listened to and their choices were respected.” from the report
Regular quality checks
The home had daily, weekly and monthly checks and audits. Inspectors said issues identified through these checks were dealt with promptly.
“Robust systems of daily, weekly and monthly quality assurance checks and audits were in place.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you assess and review my relative's individual risks and support their choices?
- 02What training and competency checks do staff have for my relative's medicines and any specific health needs?
- 03How will you support my relative's communication needs, including if they communicate through actions, gestures or facial expressions?
- 04What activities and community opportunities would be available based on my relative's interests and ambitions?
- 05How would you support my relative to keep in contact with family and respond if their needs changed?
This was the first planned inspection and covered all five CQC questions: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 January 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 Tree House
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2022Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2020Good
- October 2018
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 11 October 2018.
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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Rochdale
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Most charge £980 to £1,260 a week. 92 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“Primrose is a very kind and compassionate healthcare professional”
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