Apple Blossom Court

Updated 19 December 2020

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 Care Act 2014.

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

This inspection wad carried out by one inspector.

Apple Blossom Court is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff including the provider, registered manager, a senior care worker, care workers and domestic staff.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to safe recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at some people’s care plans and risk assessments, some safety audits and checks made when staff were recruited.

Updated 19 December 2020

Apple Blossom Court is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 17 people in one adapted building over three floors. At the time of our inspection 10 people were living at the home.

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

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to their community that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

Within the areas looked at during this focused inspection; the service was not able to demonstrate how they were meeting some of the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.

The design of people’s accommodation, the use of the building and the delivery of people’s support did not promote people’s dignity, people developing or using their skills, maximising choice and being as independent as possible; or promoting them enjoying their home in an ordinary and everyday manner.

Some people’s needs, choices and preferences did not fit in with or clashed with others when using the communal areas of the home. This had led to some people having negative experiences, being isolated from others or choosing to spend their time in their bedroom.

We made a recommendation regarding the application of the principles of right support, right care, right culture.

When we inspected there were not enough staff available to meet people’s identified support needs and complete necessary tasks.

We made a recommendation regarding the deployment of staff.

The registered manager had responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, the home was clean, and steps had been taken to prevent any spread of infection. However, PPE and other clinical waste were not always being stored appropriately.

We made a recommendation regarding the storage of waste at the home.

Staff were kind and respectful in their approach towards people and were knowledgeable about their day to day preferences. People were comfortable with staff members; one person told us, “The staff are nice”.

A series of checks and audits took place to help ensure people received safe care and support. Medication was stored and administered safely, new staff members had been recruited safely and checks took place on the home’s environment and equipment used.

The home now had a manager who was registered with the CQC. There had been a series of improvements at the home under the registered manager. People’s family members, staff and some health and social care professionals praised their approach.

The registered manager undertook a series of audits to ensure safety and manage risk. There had been some improvements and refurbishments made within the home and outdoor areas.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 31 October 2019). The service remains rated requires improvement. This is the second consecutive inspection were the service has been rated requires improvement.

Why we inspected

We received concerns in relation to the quality and safety of the care and support people received. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of “Is the service safe?” and “Is the service well-led?”.

We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection.

The overall rating for the service remans requires improvement. This is based on the findings at this inspection. We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvement. Please see the, safe and well-led sections of this full report.

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

Follow up

We will meet with the provider following this report being published to discuss how they will make changes to ensure they improve their rating to at least good. We will work with the local authority to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.