The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has raised the rating for Elmcroft Care Home from inadequate to good following an inspection that finished in January and removed it from special measures.
Elmcroft Care Home is a residential care home that provides support to older and younger people, those living with dementia, and people with a physical disability. The home provides support for up to 54 people. There were 18 people using the service during this inspection.
This inspection was carried out to follow up on the progress of improvements CQC told them to make around previous enforcement action, which included breaches of regulations related to person-centred care, safeguarding and management.
At this inspection, CQC found the service had made sufficient improvements and they are no longer in breach of regulations.
CQC has raised the home’s overall rating from inadequate to good, as well as for being effective, responsive and well-led. CQC has also raised the rating of safe and caring from requires improvement to good.
Hazel Roberts, CQC deputy director of adult social care in the East of England, said:
“When we returned to Elmcroft Care Home, we were pleased to find significant improvements had been made across the service. The home had a positive and welcoming environment. People felt safe, respected and well supported by a consistent staff team who knew them well.
“Leaders made clear improvements to how the home was run and worked well with health professionals to improve care. People, relatives, staff and professionals all spoke positively about the registered manager. One relative told us the manager led by example, which had a positive impact on staff.
“Staff now involve people and their families in planning care, understand what matters to them, and support people to stay independent and make their own choices. Families told us they felt listened to and could raise concerns with confidence. One relative told us staff really helped people and knew everyone by name, which made families feel like part of the home.
“The home developed more activities to meet people’s needs, including visits to a dementia choir, trips to the garden centre, carol singing and therapy dog visits. One staff member told us they were happy with how the home is now and said there had been many improvements.
“The staff and leaders at Elmcroft Care Home should be proud of the improvements they’ve achieved together for their residents. We’ve shared our findings with them and will continue to monitor the service to ensure these improvements to people’s care are embedded and sustained.”
Inspectors also found:
- Leaders and staff improved how they worked with health professionals. One professional told CQC the home now regularly answers its phones and administrative staff are friendly and helpful.
- The home has built a positive culture where managers and staff work well together. Staff told CQC they felt supported and proud of their work.
- Staff took on champion roles in key areas such as safeguarding, infection control and promoting dignity, and were supported by extra training.
- The management team looked closely at people’s health and identified health issues that had not been found before.
- People, families and staff helped create new values to reflect what was important to everyone in the service.
- Leaders significantly improved medicines management. One relative said the improvement since the new manager started has been significant.