The Cherry Tree

Updated 1 February 2022

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 25 January 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection.

Updated 1 February 2022

We inspected The Cherry Tree on 24 January 2019. The Cherry Tree is a "care home". People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Cherry Tree does not provide nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service supports up to four adults with learning disabilities and/or autism. There were three people living at The Cherry Tree at the time of our inspection all of whom had complex needs.

The service continued to have a registered manager in post. The registered manager was aware of their registration responsibilities particularly with regards to submission of statutory notifications about key events that occurred at the service.

At the last inspection of the service in 2016, the service was rated "Good". At this inspection we found the service remained "Good". The service continued to be well organised and managed.

The Cherry Tree has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People living at The Cherry Tree were living as ordinary a life as any adult. They had busy, active social lives which reflected their age and interests. Staff assisted people to keep in contact with their family and friends which helped to ensure they did not become socially isolated.

The provider had followed the Mental Capacity Act 2005 in assessing people's capacity to consent to their care. The provider made appropriate applications to deprive people of their liberty. Staff obtained people's consent before providing care or support. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.

People and their relatives were fully involved in planning their care. Care plans included information about people’s abilities, likes, interests and background. People received care which met their individual needs from a consistent staff team who knew them well. The provider had effective systems in place to support people in relation to their behaviour which may challenge others. The care people received reflected their emotional as well as physical and mental health care needs.

People were protected from abuse and foreseeable harm. Risk assessments considered people's individual needs, strengths and areas where support was required. Support plans were in place which helped people manage the risks identified as safely as possible. Staff encouraged and empowered people to develop independent living skills.

Staff were kind and caring. They treated people with dignity and respect. Staff understood people's individual communication needs well and adapted the way they communicated accordingly. There was a sufficient number of staff to support people safely, meet their needs and support them to go out into the community. The provider ensured staff had the necessary training, skills and experience to support people safely and effectively.

Staff encouraged people to have a balanced diet and a sufficient amount to eat and drink. Staff supported people to maintain good emotional, physical and mental health and liaised well with outside social and health care professionals. People received their medicines as prescribed.

Recruitment processes were robust and appropriate checks were conducted before staff began to work with people. Staff received essential training but also training specific to the needs of people they were supporting.

People were given opportunities to feedback on the care they received. The registered manager listened to and used feedback to improve the quality of care people received. Staff were involved in the development of the service.

The registered manager kept abreast of developments in adult social care and supporting people with learning disabilities. She understood what was required to provide good quality care and was effectively supported by the provider to do so. There were appropriate systems in place to assess and monitor the quality of care people received.