Background to this inspection
Updated
4 July 2019
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 Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
This inspection was carried out by one inspector and an 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.
Service and service type
Birchwood Grove is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had two managers registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. One of the registered managers was also a provider.
Notice of inspection
This inspection took place on 16 and 17 May 2019 and was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We looked at other information we held about the service and provider before the inspection visit. We also contacted health and social care professionals who were in regular contact with the service. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with 11 people who used the service, four relatives and two health and social care professionals. We also had informal interactions with people living at the home and carried out observations. We spoke with both registered managers. We also spoke with one of the providers and eight members of staff.
We looked at four people’s care records in various detail. We observed care and support in communal areas. We looked at one staff file. We looked at information received in relation to the general running of the home including medication records, auditing systems and environmental files.
After the inspection
Following the inspection, we asked for further information including quality assurance documents, information in relation to staff and some of the provider’s policies. All the information was provided in the time scales given and the information has been included in this report.
Updated
4 July 2019
About the service
Birchwood Grove is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care of up to 24 older people. At the time of inspection there were 24 people living at the home. Many people living at the home had dementia so had limited verbal communication. There were two double bedrooms and the rest were single bedrooms. Everyone had access to a range of communal spaces including a dining room, conservatory and lounge area.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People and their relatives told us they were happy living at the home and they felt safe. All people were comfortable in the presence of staff. People had their medicines administered safely. However, improvements were required with some medicine management. Most risks had been identified with ways to mitigate them. Although the transfer to electronic care plans meant some records were lacking specific details or guidance. Paper care plans were still available to help mitigate this risk.
Systems were in place to monitor the quality and safety of care people received. The management strove to be open and constantly develop and improve the support people received. When systems had identified issues, actions were being taken to rectify them. The management were aware of their responsibility to notify the Care Quality Commission of certain events in line with their statutory obligations.
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.
People and staff felt there were enough staff. During the inspection people were able to participate in a range of activities due to positive staffing levels. Staff had received a range of training considered mandatory by the provider. Specialist training was sourced if a member of staff had a specific role.
People had care plans which were personalised and provided a range of information for staff to use to support their needs and wishes. There were good links with other health and social care professionals which was important due to the complex needs of anyone living at the home.
Staff were kind and caring and knew the people living at the home well. Staff respected privacy and dignity throughout the inspection.
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 21 December 2016).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.