CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Yew Tree
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that risks were assessed and reviewed, staff knew how to report safeguarding concerns, and there were enough safely recruited staff. Medicines records were complete, but guidance for medicines given when needed also needed to be added to the medicines file.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had high training compliance, regular support and worked with health and behaviour specialists. The person's health, nutrition, communication and legal restrictions were reviewed and supported.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated the person with dignity and respect and supported them to make choices and develop independence. Relatives and professionals described the staff team positively.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected the person's likes, dislikes, communication and support needs. The person was supported with activities, family contact and ways to express what they wanted.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found an open culture, clear management arrangements and regular checks of medicines, care plans, incidents and staff support. The home worked with family and a range of professionals.
What inspectors found, February 2024
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, caring and personalised support, with one medicines-record improvement identified.
The inspection took place on 23 January 2024. One inspector reviewed care plans, medicines records, staff recruitment files, complaints, incidents and safeguarding records. They also observed support, spoke with a relative, seven staff members and three professionals.
The home supports one person with complex needs, including a learning disability and autism. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safely managed risks, person-centred care and good support with health, communication, activities and family contact.
All five areas were rated Good: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. This means inspectors found the person's needs were met and the service was consistently managed. The overall Good rating was unchanged from the previous inspection, published on 11 November 2017.
Staff knew the person well
The home had a stable staff team who had supported the person for several years. Staff understood how the person communicated and how to reduce their anxieties.
“There was a stable staff team, who had supported the person living at Yew Tree for several years and knew them well.” from the report
Specialist behaviour support
A positive behaviour support specialist visited weekly and helped staff understand possible triggers and use consistent strategies.
“An external PBS specialist visited Yew Tree weekly to observe the support provided and support the staff team to reduce the person's anxieties.” from the report
Choice and independence
The person was supported to make day-to-day choices and take part in their own care. Staff encouraged skills such as making their bed and buttering toast.
“Staff encouraged the person to be involved in their care where possible, for example buttering their own toast and making their own bed.” from the report
Positive relationships and communication
Relatives said communication was good and they were involved in reviews. The person also had daily phone calls with family and support to take part in preferred activities.
“The communication is good. They keep me informed and I'm involved in everything.” from the report
Medicine guidance was not in the main medicines file
needs fixingInstructions for when to give an as-needed medicine were recorded on the computer system but not also in the medicines file. The registered manager said this would be completed.
“We discussed with e registered manager that this information should also be in the medicines file, so it was easily accessible when staff were administering the medicines.” from the report
- 01Has the guidance for as-needed medicines now been added to the medicines file, and how do staff find it during a medicines round?
- 02How will you support my relative to communicate choices, discomfort and anxiety?
- 03How often will the positive behaviour support specialist work with staff, and how will you check that agreed strategies are followed?
- 04How will my relative be supported to take part in activities and maintain contact with family?
- 05How are relatives and advocates involved in reviewing care and decisions about restrictions?
This was an announced inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the care provided and the premises; the previous Good ratings in all five areas remained unchanged. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 February 2024 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, November 2017
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care with strong staffing, activities and management.
This was an announced inspection on 27 September 2017. Inspectors reviewed information about the home, spoke with one resident, one relative, managers and two care staff, and observed care in communal areas. They checked one resident's care and medicines records, along with staff recruitment, training and management records.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough suitably checked staff, safe medicines systems, a clean and homely environment, and staff who supported choice, independence and family contact.
Care plans gave staff detailed information about personal preferences, communication and changing needs. The resident had access to many activities, including horse riding and trampolining. The report also says a DoLS application was with the local authority to decide whether it was needed.
Safe staffing
The home had enough staff to support the resident, with a consistent team and no agency staff being used. Recruitment checks included references and DBS checks.
“The person who used the service required two staff to support them. Staff members and relatives told us that there was a consistent staff team and there were adequate staffing numbers.” from the report
Safe medicines
Staff were trained and their medicines skills were checked. Inspectors found that the medicines records they reviewed were complete.
“We looked at the medication administration records for the person accommodated at the home. All the records we looked at were completed correctly with no gaps.” from the report
Choice and independence
Staff used pictures, signs and other communication methods to help the resident make decisions. The resident was supported to do as much as possible independently.
“We saw the person was encouraged to keep in contact with family and friends.” from the report
Personalised activities
The resident had a busy programme of activities, including horse riding, swimming and trampolining. Staff could adapt the programme to the resident's wishes and wellbeing.
“Although activities were varied and tailored to the individual they were also flexible and staff told us that although they had a programme of activities, these were not set in stone” from the report
Approachable management
Staff and the relative said management was supportive, approachable and responsive. Regular meetings, supervision and audits were used to monitor the service.
“The management of Yew Tree were approachable and accessible.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you support my relative's particular communication needs, including the use of pictures, signs or Makaton?
- 02What activities would be available for my relative, and how would you change them if their mood or wellbeing changed?
- 03What is the current position on any Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards application or best-interest decision that may apply?
- 04How would two staff be arranged to support my relative when needed?
- 05How would you involve our family in reviews, appointments and day-to-day communication?
This was an announced inspection of the overall service and all five CQC questions; inspectors observed one resident and reviewed that person's care and medicines records. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 November 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 Yew Tree
2 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2024Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2017GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2015
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 March 2015.
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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Most charge £980 to £1,260 a week. 91 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
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“She is an exemplary carer, she is knowledgable empathetic and very respectful in the home.”
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