Plane Tree Court

Updated 2 September 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 team consisted of 2 inspectors.

Service and service type

Plane Tree Court 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. Plane Tree Court is a care home with 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 since the last inspection. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We reviewed documents related to the running of the service including staff recruitment files and care plans. We observed interactions between people living at the service and staff. We spoke with 4 people using the service and 5 relatives about their experience of the care they received. We spoke with 2 professionals who regularly attend the service, and 7 members of staff, including the registered manager.

Updated 2 September 2023

About the service

Plane Tree Court is a residential home which provides nursing and personal care to up to 66 people, across 3 floors. The service provides support to people with dementia and physical disabilities. At the time of our inspection there were 56 people using the service.

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

Medicines were not always stored in line with guidance and some protocols for ‘when required’ medication were not up to date. We have made a recommendation around this.Staff were recruited safely. Safeguarding concerns were escalated and responded to appropriately. Appropriate safety checks were in place at the service. We received positive feedback about the staff at the service. The home appeared clean throughout and there was regular cleaning of ‘high touch’ areas.

People had appropriate risk assessments in place. People’s care plans were not always sufficiently personalised. Relatives told us that staff knew people well and how they liked to be supported. Complaints were responded to appropriately. People were supported to engage in a variety of activities which they appeared to enjoy. Relatives were encouraged to visit the service.

Staff were passionate about supporting people with end of life care and avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions.

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.

The registered manager addressed concerns with staff, during staff meetings to drive improvements at the service. The service engaged well with other professionals to support people using the service. Staff were encouraged to give feedback. Relatives felt able to talk to the staff and registered manager.

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 good (published 3 March 2020).

Why we inspected

We received concerns in relation to staffing and cleanliness. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe, responsive and well-led only.

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.

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 good.

Follow up

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