CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Tree Tops
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Risks, medicines, staffing, recruitment, infection control and accidents were managed safely.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed and staff had suitable training and support. People were supported with food, health appointments, capacity decisions and specialist equipment.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect. People and relatives were involved in decisions, and staff supported independence, communication and important relationships.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care was personalised and people were supported to follow their interests, use community services and maintain relationships. Communication needs and complaints arrangements were addressed.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had a registered manager and systems to monitor quality and improve care. Staff, relatives and professionals gave positive feedback about the leadership and person-centred approach.
What inspectors found, August 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care across all five areas they checked.
This was an unannounced inspection on 12 July 2019. One inspector spoke with a person living at the home, two relatives, the manager and three support workers. They also observed care and reviewed care, staff and management records.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe medicines systems, suitable risk plans and a clean, adapted environment.
People were supported to make choices, stay independent and take part in activities they enjoyed. Staff knew people well and worked with relatives and health and social care professionals. The rating was unchanged from the previous inspection, published on 13 January 2017.
Staff know people well
Staff understood people's needs, communication and risks. Inspectors saw staff adapt support so people could make choices and take part in activities.
“Staff knew people well and understood the risks they faced and took appropriate actions to minimise them.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People were treated with dignity and respect. Staff supported privacy, independence, cultural needs and relationships with relatives and friends.
“People were supported by staff that were kind, understanding and caring.” from the report
Safe systems
The home had arrangements for safeguarding, risk management, medicines, recruitment, emergencies and infection control. Inspectors found these systems were being followed.
“Medicines were managed, administered and stored safely.” from the report
Personalised activities
People were supported to choose activities, access the community and follow hobbies and interests inside and outside the home.
“Staff supported and encouraged people to pursue hobbies and interests inside and outside the home environment.” from the report
Good involvement and leadership
Relatives and professionals were involved in care planning and reviews. The manager used meetings, surveys and audits to gather views and improve the service.
“There were effective processes in place to monitor the quality of the service and to make any improvements if required.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you support my relative's individual communication needs, including if they cannot communicate verbally?
- 02What are my relative's current risk assessments, and how will you support their independence while keeping them safe?
- 03How will you involve us and my relative in care planning, reviews and decisions about changes in care?
- 04What activities and community opportunities would be available that match my relative's interests?
- 05How do you check that medicines, specialist equipment and health professional guidance are being managed safely?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, and it also included a thematic review of restrictive interventions; some people could not share their views directly, so inspectors used observation as well as discussions and records. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 August 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.
What inspectors found, January 2017
Tree Tops was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with stronger quality checks than at the previous inspection.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 17 November 2016. One inspector spoke with two people, three staff members and the registered manager. The inspector also observed care, checked three care records, visited the premises and reviewed staffing, medicines, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, personalised care plans, safe medicines arrangements and staff who understood people's needs. People were supported with communication, activities, healthcare and relationships that mattered to them.
The home had improved its quality monitoring since the November 2014 inspection. The previous overall rating was Good, and the home remained Good. Inspectors noted that most other people living there could not share their views because of their needs, so some findings came from observation, records and discussions with staff.
Personalised risk support
Risk plans were individual and detailed. Staff followed guidance for needs such as swallowing difficulties, mobility and safe transfers.
“Risk plan records were individual, detailed and regularly reviewed.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people well and supported their dignity, preferences and communication needs. Inspectors saw people appearing relaxed and comfortable with staff.
“People reacted positively by smiling or vocalising when staff approached and spoke with them.” from the report
Activities and relationships
People were supported to enjoy activities, holidays, outings and new experiences. The home also supported contact with families and other important people.
“People continued to take part in a variety of activities and events that met their social and physical needs.” from the report
Improved oversight
The provider had introduced more audits and checks covering areas such as medicines, care plans, cleanliness and safety. This led to the Well-led rating improving from the previous inspection.
“Additional checks for monitoring and assessing the quality of service were in place and everyone involved in the service had been asked to share their views through questionnaires.” from the report
Fridge temperature records
minorA management review found that fridge temperatures were not always being recorded daily. Staff were reminded to complete these records.
“staff were reminded to check fridge temperatures were recorded daily.” from the report
- 01How will you prevent a repeat of the medicines administration error mentioned in the report?
- 02How do you check that fridge temperatures are recorded every day?
- 03How would you support my relative's particular health needs, such as epilepsy, swallowing difficulties or mobility needs?
- 04How would you communicate with my relative if they cannot communicate verbally?
- 05What activities, outings and opportunities to maintain family relationships would be available for my relative?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five questions, but most people living at the home were unable to share their views because of their needs. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 January 2017 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 Tree Tops
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- August 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 28 January 2011.
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 Croydon
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 £1,230 a week. 77 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“She cared for my mum with Alzheimer's with endless patience and kindness, always arriving with a smile and a positive attitude”
“Terry has been of invaluable help to our family while working as a part-time live-in carer for our mother for approximately 6 months”
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.