CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Elms
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, January 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe and personalised care, with two records needing correction.
This was an announced comprehensive inspection. The inspector visited on 15 December 2018 and made telephone calls up to 16 December. They spoke with people, relatives, the manager and staff. They also looked at care plans, medicine records, staff files, maintenance records and quality checks.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe recruitment, caring relationships and support that respected people's choices, health needs, interests and communication styles.
There were two record-keeping issues. The balance recorded for two pain-relieving medicines was not correct. Also, one care record had not been updated after breakaway techniques were no longer needed. The manager said these issues would be addressed.
Enough trained staff
Inspectors found enough staff with suitable training and experience. Recruitment checks had been completed.
“There were enough appropriately trained staff employed to support people.” from the report
Kind relationships
People and relatives described staff as kind and welcoming. Inspectors also saw genuine affection between staff and people.
“There was a welcoming and friendly atmosphere at the home.” from the report
Choice and independence
Staff supported people to make daily choices, do tasks for themselves and follow their own interests.
“People were supported to follow their interests and this meant they spent their time doing things they enjoyed.” from the report
Improved legal decision-making
The service had improved its work under the Mental Capacity Act since the previous inspection. Staff understood consent, choice and reviewing restrictions.
“At this inspection we found improvements had been made.” from the report
Open management
Staff and relatives spoke positively about the manager. Inspectors found a supportive culture and regular checks on the service.
“There was an open, friendly, supportive and reflective culture within the home and a clear management structure.” from the report
Medicine balances
needs fixingThe recorded balance for two pain-relieving medicines was incorrect. The staff member responsible for medicines explained how this would be addressed.
“The balance recorded for two pain relieving medicines was not correct.” from the report
Care record not updated
needs fixingOne person's anxiety had reduced and breakaway techniques were no longer needed, but this change had not yet been recorded in the care plan.
“This had not been updated in their records.” from the report
- 01How was the incorrect balance for the two pain-relieving medicines corrected, and what checks now prevent this happening again?
- 02How do you make sure care plans are updated promptly when a person's needs or support techniques change?
- 03How are restrictions on people's liberty reviewed to make sure they are not treated as permanent?
- 04How do you involve relatives in care reviews and decisions about changes in support?
- 05How do you check that people's communication methods and preferences are shared with new staff?
This was an announced comprehensive inspection covering all five question areas, based on a visit on 15 December 2018 and telephone calls up to 16 December 2018. This explanation was written from the published report of 10 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 The Elms
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 7 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.
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37 live-in carers within about an hour of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
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 £1,000 to £1,340 a week. 26 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“We could not have managed without her calm, reassuring presence and practical knowledge and skill in caring and supporting both my husband and the family and I.”
“I cannot recommend Prisca highly enough, she is one in a million.”
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.