Archived: Beddell House

We found the following examples of good practice:

• Systems were in place to prevent people, staff and visitors from catching and spreading infections. All visitors had to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), complete a health declaration form and had their temperature checked prior to entering the home. Additional cleaning of all areas and frequent touch surfaces was being carried out.

• The provider was following national guidance for anyone moving into the home. Staff worked closely with healthcare professionals to ensure appropriate and safe admissions procedures were being followed and external visits such as hospital appointments were assessed and well planned.

• Staff supported people’s social and emotional wellbeing. The registered manager told us how people living at the service were resilient and were very engaged with updates about Covid-19. The service had used different methods including whiteboards to assist communication with staff wearing face masks. The provider and staff kept family members up to date about the latest guidance and their relative’s health via regular telephone calls, letters and social media.

• Staff wellbeing was a priority and the provider and registered manager ensured staff received appropriate guidance and support. All staff, including catering and housekeeping staff had undertaken additional training in infection prevention and control. This included putting on and taking off PPE, hand hygiene and other Covid-19 related training.

• The registered manager explained the quality systems they had in place to check the service was providing safe care. There was a robust communication system on place to ensure staff received consistent updates in relation to infection control policy and practice.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of 'Good' and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risk or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

Beddell House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Beddell House accommodates up to 60 older people who require personal care. On the day of our inspection there were 37 people using the service. People who used the service and their relatives were complimentary about the standard of care at Beddell House.

The home had a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with CQC 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.

The provider had an effective recruitment and selection procedure in place and carried out relevant checks when they employed staff. There were sufficient numbers of staff on duty in order to meet the needs of people who used the service. Staff were supported to provide care to people who used the service through a range of mandatory training, supervision and appraisal. Staff said they felt supported by the registered manager.

Staff treated people with dignity and respect and helped to maintain people’s independence by encouraging them to care for themselves where possible. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. Activities were arranged for people who used the service based on their likes and interests and to help meet their social needs, in the home and within the local community.

Care records showed people’s needs were assessed before they started using the service and care plans were written in a person-centred way and were reviewed regularly. Person-centred is about ensuring the person is at the centre of any care or support and their individual wishes, needs and choices are taken into account. Care plans were in place that recorded people’s plans and wishes for their end of life care.

The registered manager understood their responsibilities with regard to safeguarding and staff had been trained in safeguarding vulnerable adults. People were protected from the risk of poor nutrition and staff were aware of people’s nutritional needs. People had access to healthcare services and received ongoing healthcare support. Appropriate arrangements were in place for the safe management and administration of medicines.

The home was clean, spacious and suitable for the people who used the service. The provider had effective procedures in place for managing the maintenance of the premises and appropriate health and safety checks were carried out. Accidents and incidents were appropriately recorded and risk assessments were in place where required.

The provider had an effective complaints procedure in place and people who used the service and their relatives were aware of how to make a complaint. The provider had a quality assurance process in place. People who used the service, relatives and staff were regularly consulted about the quality of the service through meetings and surveys.

We found care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way which ensured people's safety and welfare. One person who lived at the home told us, 'This home is excellent, you can't fault them. Just look around you and watch what the staff do.' Another person said, 'It's like the best hotel I've ever stayed at, and with care as well.' One visitor told us, 'It's a cross between a hotel and sheltered housing where you can get care if you need it. It suits a lot of people who can have varying degrees of care as and when they need it.'

The provider had made suitable arrangements to protect vulnerable people and respond appropriately to any allegation of abuse.

The provider had taken steps to make sure people at the home were protected from staff who were unsuitable to work with vulnerable people by carrying out thorough background checks.

We found the provider had an effective system in place to identify, assess and manage risks to the health, safety and welfare of people using the service and promote their health and wellbeing.

We found that care and treatment at the home was planned and delivered in a way which ensured people's safety and welfare. People at the home said they felt involved in decisions about their care and wellbeing.

One person told us, 'If I tell them I need a doctor in the morning he's here by lunchtime.'

During our visit we found that prescribed medicines were given to people appropriately and they received the treatment they needed.

We found that staff received appropriate professional development at Beddell House. People told us they were happy with the support they received from staff. One person told us, 'The staff are very good. You don't have to worry about them not doing their job.'

We found that people who used the service, their representatives and staff were asked for their views about the care and treatment offered. Their responses were acknowledged and acted on. One person told us, 'You'd be hard pressed to find something to complain about.' Another said, 'The care here is very good, staff are conscientious.'