CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Elmbrook Court Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People told inspectors they felt safe. Risks were assessed and managed, medicines were administered as prescribed, and staff understood how to report safeguarding concerns. Some people reported that staffing shortages could delay attention.
- Effective?
- Good
- Care assessments were comprehensive and regularly reviewed. Staff received induction, training and supervision, and people were supported with food, drink, healthcare and decisions about their care.
- Caring?
- Good
- People and relatives described staff as kind and caring. Inspectors observed respectful communication, and found that people's privacy, dignity, independence, culture and choices were respected.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care was personalised and adapted to people's needs, preferences and routines. People had activities, community links and support to maintain relationships, and complaints were used to improve the service.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The current registered manager had created a clearer management structure and the home had effective audits and quality checks. Earlier changes in management had caused some instability, but inspectors found continuing improvements and good teamwork.
What inspectors found, August 2022
Rated Good overall; inspectors found kind, personalised care, but staffing shortages sometimes caused delays.
This was the first inspection since the home registered. It was unannounced and took place on 22 and 28 June 2022. Inspectors spoke with people, relatives, staff and healthcare professionals. They also looked at care records, medicines records, recruitment files, complaints and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found people were protected from abuse, risks were assessed, medicines were given safely and staff had the right recruitment checks. People received personalised care and were treated with kindness, dignity and respect.
There were concerns about staffing. Some people, relatives and staff said there were too few staff at busy times and that call bells could take several minutes to answer. The home was using regular agency staff and continuing to recruit, although inspectors saw enough staff on the inspection days.
The report says management had been unsettled after changes in managers, but the current registered manager had brought greater stability and improvements. The home used feedback, complaints and audits to improve care. Good means the service met the CQC's expectations overall, but it does not mean that every part of the service was perfect.
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives were consistently positive about staff's kindness. Inspectors saw staff speaking politely and respectfully and supporting people's dignity and independence.
“During the inspection we observed staff talking to people in a polite and respectful manner.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans reflected people's individual needs, preferences and routines. Staff knew people well and updated plans when needs changed.
“People received personalised care and support specific to their needs, preferences and routines.” from the report
Food and hydration
People had choices about food and where to eat. Mealtimes were not rushed, and staff supported people with food and drinks in a dignified way.
“People were supported with nutrition and hydration in a dignified way. The dining environment was pleasant, and food was well-presented.” from the report
Activities and relationships
People could take part in a wide range of individual and group activities, or choose entertainment in their rooms. The home also had links with local community groups.
“People had access to a wide variety of activities which included individual and group activities” from the report
Learning from incidents
The home identified bruising after falls, provided moving and handling refresher training and discussed skin care with staff. Inspectors found that bruising had reduced.
“As a result, bruising after falls had reduced.” from the report
Staffing pressure
needs fixingSome people, relatives and staff said there were too few staff at certain times, especially weekends, nights and busy periods. They described waiting several minutes for attention, although inspectors saw enough staff to meet people's needs during the visits.
“There are definitely not enough staff here, definitely not enough. You do have to hang about for attention sometimes” from the report
Earlier management instability
minorThere had been changes in management after the provider commissioned the home. The report says this affected stability at first, although the current manager had made improvements.
“There had been a change in managers since the new provider commissioned the home. This had created some instability in the beginning.” from the report
Communication had previously been difficult
minorA survey identified communication as the main issue. The home introduced meetings, surgeries, comments books and other communication channels, and inspectors found communication had improved.
“Communication was problematic in the first few months but has improved recently.” from the report
- 01How many permanent care staff are currently employed, and how often do you use agency staff?
- 02How do you make sure there are enough staff at weekends, at night and during busy periods?
- 03How quickly are call bells usually answered, and how do you check for delays?
- 04What changes have been made to improve communication with residents and relatives?
- 05How are complaints, incidents and staffing concerns reviewed and acted on?
This was an unannounced first inspection covering all five CQC areas, including the care provided and the premises. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 August 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.
Every inspection of Elmbrook Court Care Home
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- August 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2021
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 30 April 2021.
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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38 live-in carers within about an hour of Oxfordshire
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 £1,300 a week. 32 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“We can all fully relax around Nyarai and she feels like part of our family, which is no mean feat!”
“She was v competent and confident and we felt our mum was safe in her care. She supported us through a difficult time.”
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.