Elizabeth House

This report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) provides an overview of Elizabeth House, a residential care home, following an inspection in February 2023. The inspection focused on specific areas following concerns raised, with a detailed review of safety and leadership practices. The report aims to inform families about the home's performance and highlight areas of strength and development.

Regarding safety, while infection control measures were found to be effective and staff received appropriate medication training, there were noted issues. Insufficient staffing levels sometimes led to delays in resident assistance, and care plans were not always detailed enough to fully capture risks or guide staff effectively. Some "as and when required" medicines were not administered precisely as prescribed.

In terms of effective care, residents were generally supported to have maximum choice and control over their lives, with staff acting in their best interests. Care plans and risk assessments were intended to guide staff, and the home was noted to be operating within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act.

The caring aspect observed was generally positive, with residents and relatives expressing that they felt safe and well looked after. Staff were trained in safeguarding and knew how to raise concerns, and there was a generally positive atmosphere reported by residents.

The responsiveness of the service was also a positive point, with the home working effectively with other professionals to ensure residents accessed necessary healthcare. Feedback from professionals was largely positive, noting the staff's friendly and helpful approach.

On how well-led the service is, the leadership demonstrated a good understanding of their responsibilities, including openness and honesty when things go wrong. The registered manager actively sought to monitor service quality through audits and systems, and the home was working to improve its assessment process for new admissions. Staff and residents generally reported a positive and supportive team culture.

Despite overall positive feedback on leadership, the report highlights that while improvements in staffing and environmental changes were planned and discussed with the provider, some of these, particularly for night care staff, were not yet in place at the time of the inspection. Also, analysis for behaviour-related incidents was not immediately available.