The Cedars and Larches Care Home

Updated 16 March 2025

Date of Assessment: 4 February 2025 to 3 March 2025. The service is a residential care home with nursing providing support to older people, including those living with dementia, and physical disabilities. At the time of our assessment, 54 people lived at the service. This was the first assessment of the service under a new provider due to information of concern we received.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. The manager and the provider are legally responsible for the quality and safety of the care provided.

The assessment was conducted by 2 inspectors, 1 specialist nurse advisor and 1 expert by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. We spoke with 13 people who received care and support, or their relatives and friends did. We reviewed 5 people’s care plans and a range of documents and polices.

Systems and processes helped the provider learn lessons from incidents and when things went wrong to keep people safe from harm and abuse. Risk assessments were completed for individual people’s risk and their environment. Trained staff and staffing levels met the needs of people. People were engaged and involved in their individual assessments and decisions about their care, which included their preferences and communication styles. People received their medicines as prescribed. People were referred to additional healthcare services if required. People had their dignity and privacy respected by staff. Leaders had an effective management structure in place to monitor the quality the care and to drive improvements. Leaders were visible, knowledgeable and supportive. Leaders welcomed feedback and people knew who to give the feedback and were confident that leader took it seriously and acted on it.

Updated 16 March 2025

People and those important to them spoke very positively about the quality of care and support they received. People felt safe and well supported and staff seemed confident in their various roles. This was endorsed by the comments shared by people living there and those who were visiting the home, such as “Staff are so lovely, I never worry about [name] being safe. They all seem to know what they are doing”, and “I know they’re safe, its wonderful not having to worry”. People felt listened to and were comfortable with their care staff. One relative said in relation to staffing, “Staff here seem to stay. Not many changes and I think that makes a real difference. [Name] is never anxious now and they really were in the last place”. Everyone we spoke with about the quality of meals, the times and food said positive things about it. People confirmed they liked their staff, and they felt involved in the running of the home, including deciding on activities or events stating, “They’re always doing lovely things,” and “There’s always lots happening!”. In terms of staff well-being and morale, one person said, “The staff here are happy – they work well together.” We saw a number of people, using recognised dementia therapies which have positive benefits for some people with dementia. One relatives advised, “It gives such a lot of comfort and reassurance, which is clearly known and understood by care staff”. Managers were confirmed to be supportive and visible. One person confirmed how, despite their high levels of needs, both managers and staff had been very responsive in supporting her personal choices.