CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at The Elms Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home was managing infection risks, including visitors, new admissions, PPE, testing, cleaning and outbreaks. This was an infection prevention and control review, rather than a full safety rating.
- 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 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found that infection risks during a COVID-19 outbreak were managed well.
Inspectors visited the home on 08 December 2020. This was an announced, targeted inspection because of the COVID-19 outbreak response. They looked at infection prevention and control.
Inspectors were assured that the home used suitable measures to prevent infections spreading. These included zoning, limiting staff movement between units, testing, cleaning, PPE and safe arrangements for visitors and new admissions.
The home helped people keep in touch with relatives through telephone calls, video calls and garden or window visits. A visiting pod was being built, and end-of-life visits were managed with PPE and other safety measures.
The service was inspected but not rated. This report does not give a standard overall rating or ratings for the other four questions.
Outbreak management
Inspectors found that the recent COVID-19 outbreak had been managed well. The home used zoning and limited staff movement between units.
“A recent outbreak of COVID- 19 at the service had been managed well and the plans in place to support people had been utilised safely.” from the report
PPE and infection training
Staff had up-to-date infection control training, including how to put on and remove PPE safely. Their practice was checked through regular observations.
“Staff received training about good practice for infection prevention and control.” from the report
Testing and supplies
The home had sufficient PPE, hand sanitiser and cleaning materials. People living there and staff received regular COVID-19 testing in line with government guidance.
“The service had sufficient stocks of PPE and were supported by the provider to maintain these stocks.” from the report
Contact with relatives
People were supported to stay in contact with family and friends through calls and garden or window visits. The home was also building a visiting pod.
“People were supported to keep in touch with their relatives and friends through telephone calls, video calls, and garden or window visits.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection control measures are in place now, following the COVID-19 outbreak?
- 02How are visitors currently allowed into the home, including visits for people nearing the end of life?
- 03Is the visiting pod now complete and available for visits?
- 04How often are people living in the home and staff tested for COVID-19?
- 05How will my relative keep in touch with family if indoor visiting is restricted?
This was an announced, targeted inspection of infection prevention and control practices during the COVID-19 pandemic; the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 January 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, May 2019
Rated Good in all five areas; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with clear improvement since the previous inspection.
This was a scheduled inspection because the previous rating was Requires Improvement. Inspectors visited without notice on 13 November 2018. They spoke with people living at the home, relatives and staff, and reviewed care plans, medicines records, staff files, training records, complaints and quality checks.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safer risk management, accurate medicines records, suitable training and good support with food, health needs and decision-making. People were treated with dignity and kindness, and their care plans reflected their needs and preferences.
The report says the home had improved from Requires Improvement at the previous inspection in June 2017. The provider had strengthened care planning, risk assessments, record keeping, medicines management and quality checks. The report says the home met the characteristics of Good in all areas inspected.
Improved risk management
The home had addressed earlier problems with out-of-date risk assessments and care plans. Inspectors found stronger systems to identify, monitor and reduce risks.
“On this inspection we found significant improvements to the assessment, monitoring and management of risks.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff were observed speaking calmly, listening and giving people time. Inspectors saw people being treated as individuals, including people living with dementia.
“We observed staff interact with people with cognitive difficulties. Staff were calm and spoke clearly with people, gave them time to answer and listened to them.” from the report
Personalised activities and support
People were supported to continue hobbies, develop interests and maintain community and family links. Care planning was reviewed regularly and updated when needs changed.
“Care plans were person centred and clearly described individual care needs and preferences.” from the report
Strong leadership and checks
The home had regular meetings, audits and feedback systems. Inspectors found that identified improvements were acted on and care plans were changed when needed.
“At this inspection we found that there was a robust clinical governance programme that measured the effectiveness of all aspects of the service that had an impact on the people who lived there.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you now check that risk assessments and care plans remain up to date when a person's needs change?
- 02How do you make sure there are enough familiar staff on each of the three units, including when rotas have shortfalls?
- 03How are monthly care plan reviews carried out with the person and their family or representative?
- 04How do you record and act on a person's food, fluid, weight and position-changing needs?
- 05How would you record and follow my relative's wishes about dementia care, nursing care or end of life care?
This was a scheduled inspection covering all five CQC questions, and the report says the rating improved from Requires Improvement at the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 2 May 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 Care Home
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- January 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- May 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2017Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- May 2016
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 23 May 2016.
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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9 live-in carers within about an hour of Lincolnshire
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.
8 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Martin was more than a carer, he managed the home and became my uncle's best friend, enriching his life during his last few years.”
“Magda was always positive and proactive about trying new things to keep dad busy. She also introduced new ideas for keeping dad healthy.”
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.