We undertook an unannounced inspection of Cherry Tree House Residential Home on 10 August 2017.

Cherry Tree House Residential Home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 20 older people. At the time of our inspection there were 18 people living at the service.

There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People and their families told us they felt safe at Cherry Tree House Residential Home and had no concerns about their safety at the home. One person said “Oh yes, I do feel very safe”.

Staff understood their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding people. Staff received regular training to make sure they stayed up to date with recognising and reporting safety concerns. The service had systems in place to notify the authorities where concerns were identified. People received their medicine as prescribed.

People benefitted from caring relationships with the staff. One person said “Staff are so nice. They could not be better” and a relative said “The care is very, very good”. People and their relatives were involved in their care and people’s independence was actively promoted. Relatives and staff told us people’s dignity was promoted.

Where risks to people had been identified, risk assessments were in place and action had been taken to manage these risks. Staff sought people’s consent and involved them in their care where possible.

People, relatives and staff told us overall there were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs. This was confirmed on the day of our inspection as we observed staff numbers were adequate to meet people’s needs. The service had safe recruitment procedures and conducted background checks to ensure staff were suitable to undertake their care role. Staff told us they were given scenarios when being interviewed to test their knowledge and care ethic.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. The service was operating within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005(MCA).

People and their families told us people had enough to eat and drink. People were given a choice of meals and their preferences were respected. Where people had specific nutritional needs, staff, including the chef, were aware of these and ensured they were met.

Relatives and people told us they were confident they would be listened to and action would be taken if they raised a concern. The service had systems to assess the quality of the service provided. Improvements and learning needs were identified and action was taken to make improvements which promoted people’s safety and quality of life. Systems were in place that ensured people were protected against the risks of unsafe or inappropriate care.

Staff spoke positively about the support they received from the registered manager and all of the team at the home. Staff supervisions and other meetings were scheduled as were annual appraisals. People, their relatives and staff told us all of the management team were approachable and there was a good level of communication within the service.

Relatives and people told us the team at Cherry Trees House Residential Home was very friendly, responsive and very well-managed. Comments received included, “We came to the home as a family, we had lunch and mum liked it so much she stayed” and “The management is very good, good leadership, definitely”. The service sought people’s views and opinions and acted on them.

The management teams’ ethos was echoed by staff and embedded within the culture of the service.