Cherry Tree House

Updated 14 April 2023

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was completed by 3 inspectors and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Cherry Tree House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Cherry Tree House is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection

We spoke with 10 people who used the service and 3 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We received feedback from 2 health and social care professionals. We attempted contact with 14 staff members and spoke with 4 members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, senior and a carer.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 9 people's care records and multiple medication records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment, training and supervision. A variety of other records relating to the management of the service, including audits and policies and procedures were also reviewed.

We also used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

Updated 14 April 2023

About the service

Cherry Tree House is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 34 people who may be living with a physical disability or dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 20 people using the service. Cherry Tree House accommodates people in 1 building over 2 floors.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Quality monitoring systems were in place which helped to check various areas of the home. Any actions identified were carried out to make sure the service was continually improving. However, some improvements in relation to monitoring records were identified.

Areas of the service were in need of refurbishment to support effective cleaning.

Medicine were safely ordered, stored and administered.

Care plans included risk assessments for known risks and staff followed support plans to help keep people safe. Care plans were up to date, risk assessments were in place and regularly reviewed. People were regularly asked their views on the service provided and action had been taken when suggestions were made.

People had support from safely recruited staff. Staff received training in safeguarding and understood their role and responsibilities to protect people from abuse. Staff continued to receive guidance and support from management when required.

People were supported to have access to healthcare services to monitor and maintain their health and wellbeing. People were encouraged to maintain a healthy diet, where people had specific dietary requirements, these were catered for.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

We found the registered manager to be open and responsive to feedback. Visiting healthcare professionals told us that the management team and staff worked well with them.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 13 December 2022). The service remains rated requires improvement. This service has been rated requires improvement or inadequate for the last 5 consecutive inspections.

At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced focused inspection of this service on 6 and 9 September 2022. Breaches of legal requirements were found. Following the inspection, the provider told us they had made improvements in relation to safe care and treatment and good governance.

We undertook this focused inspection to check on the reported improvements, and to confirm whether they were now meeting the legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe, Effective and Well-led which contain those requirements.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has remained requires improvement. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Cherry Tree House on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Recommendations

We have made a recommendation in relation to the environment, systems and processes for assessing people’s needs to help inform decisions about safe staffing levels and good governance.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.