CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Elms Residential Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control, including PPE, testing, cleaning, social distancing and safe admissions. The previous Safe rating was Good and was not reviewed at this inspection.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not assessed during this inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not assessed during this inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not assessed during this inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This key question was not assessed during this inspection.
What inspectors found, December 2020
Rated Good; inspectors were assured that infection control, admissions and family contact arrangements were well managed.
This was an announced inspection on 5 November 2020. It was part of a CQC review of infection prevention and control in care homes during the coronavirus pandemic.
Inspectors were assured that the home was managing infection risks well. This included temperature checks, hand sanitising, masks, extra cleaning, personal protective equipment, testing and safe arrangements for new admissions.
The home also supported people's wellbeing and contact with families through walks, video and telephone calls, a Facebook page and virtual reality activities. The overall rating was Good, but this visit did not give a new rating for Safe or assess the other four key questions.
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home was following good infection prevention and control measures. This included checks for visitors, masks, hand sanitising and extra cleaning.
“We were assured that this service met good infection prevention and control guidelines as a designated care setting.” from the report
PPE and testing
Staff had access to PPE and had training in using it. Staff and residents were tested regularly, according to the report.
“Staff had received training in the putting on and taking off of PPE; the registered manager carried out checks of competency.” from the report
Safe admissions
New residents were tested before admission and isolated in their rooms for two weeks, with extra staff support.
“People were tested before admission and remained isolated in their room for two weeks with additional staff support.” from the report
Family contact
The home helped residents keep in touch with relatives through video and telephone calls, and shared updates and activities through its Facebook page.
“People were supported to speak with family by video and telephone calls.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are visits arranged now, and is the adapted communal room still being used?
- 02How often are staff and residents tested for infections?
- 03What happens if a new resident tests positive or needs to isolate after admission?
- 04How do staff check that PPE is being put on and taken off safely?
- 05How will you help my relative keep in touch with family if face-to-face visits are restricted?
This was a focused thematic review of infection prevention and control; Safe was inspected but not rated, and the other four key questions were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 December 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.
What inspectors found, March 2018
The Elms Residential Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with only minor delays and some developing systems.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 19 February 2018. Inspectors observed care, viewed the premises, checked care and staff records, and spoke with 12 people, five relatives or friends and six staff.
All five areas were rated Good: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. People said they felt safe and well cared for. Inspectors found suitable staffing, safe medicines practice, trained staff, good food choices and access to health professionals.
Care plans included people's needs, preferences and routines. People could make daily choices and join activities. Staff were described as kind and respectful, including when providing end-of-life care.
This was the first inspection since the current providers acquired the home in April 2016. The report says improvements had been made, although some systems were still being developed.
People felt safe
People told inspectors they felt safe and that staff responded promptly when they needed help. Staff understood how to recognise and report abuse.
“There were adequate numbers of staff available to meet people's needs promptly.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Staff knew people well and supported their dignity, privacy and independence. Inspectors also found end-of-life care to be compassionate.
“People were supported by staff who were caring and respected them as individuals.” from the report
Personalised daily choices
People could decide when to get up, go to bed, eat and spend time in their rooms or communal areas. Care plans described their routines and preferences in detail.
“People were able to make choices about all aspects of their day to day lives and to live as they chose.” from the report
Good oversight
The management team used audits and feedback to monitor care. The provider had also made several changes and improvements since taking over the home.
“There were robust systems in place to monitor the quality of care provided.” from the report
Lunch delay during inspection
needs fixingThere were fewer staff available during lunch because staff were attending training. This caused delays, and one person received their main meal after everyone else had finished.
“This resulted in some delays and one person received their main meal after everyone else had finished.” from the report
Some systems were still developing
minorThe provider had made improvements, but the report says some systems still needed to become established. Families may want to ask how these changes were completed.
“Some systems were still developing but there were firm plans and foundations.” from the report
More outings wanted
minorThe activities programme included trips and outings, but one person said they wanted to go out more often. The manager planned to review activities to reflect people's interests.
“I would like to go out more often. I love to be outdoors.” from the report
- 01How do you make sure there are enough staff to help everyone promptly during meals and staff training?
- 02What changes were made to the management structure after the management changes mentioned in the report?
- 03How have the electronic care planning system and other new systems been fully established since the inspection?
- 04How often do residents now go on trips and outings, and how are activities matched to their interests?
- 05How are medicines, falls, weight changes and care plans checked and followed up?
This was an unannounced inspection of the overall service, covering all five CQC questions and both the care provided and the premises. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 March 2018 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 Residential Home
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2020Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2018Goodstayed Good
- September 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 23 July 2012.
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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76 live-in carers within about two hours of Somerset
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Most charge £1,020 to £1,370 a week. 62 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
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