Elton Hall Care Home

There had been a very recent change of management in the home. The new manager had identified shortfalls in the service and was working to address these. While improvement was evident in several areas, we found ongoing issues with the management of medicines and the safety of the environment. Governance processes were not consistently identifying or had not yet addressed these issues; therefore, the provider was in breach of the legal regulation relating to good governance.

There were enough staff and people received compassionate and timely support. Staff spoke passionately about their roles and demonstrated a commitment to providing person-centred care. Staff felt supported by the new management team and had what they needed to complete their roles effectively. Staff were supported with regular training.

People received personalised support based on their assessed needs and preferences. Care was provided in a way that protected people’s dignity and treated them with respect. Care plans contained information on people's capacity and consent to their care which helped to ensure their rights were protected. However, some information on care files was out of date or incomplete and these records needed updating. While risks to individuals were generally well explored, we found ongoing risks to people due to record keeping and the environment.

Staff worked effectively with healthcare partners to ensure people received the support they wanted and needed. We received positive feedback from visiting professionals saying they felt management were responsive to any issues raised. People were supported to maintain social links and access activities they enjoyed.

There was evidence of a positive and inclusive culture within the service. Staff and relatives told us they had confidence in the management. Feedback was sought and acted on. Staff felt able to speak up with any issues they had. The service worked with the local community to deliver effective care.

Although we did not find evidence of harm to people, the provider had not consistently ensured that systems and processes were effective. The provider assured us about the actions they were taking, and some issues were addressed immediately. We have asked the provider to submit an action plan in response to the concerns identified during this assessment.