Beachfield

Updated 19 February 2019

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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 19 January 2019 was announced. We gave short notice as this service is for five younger adults and we needed to be sure people would be available. People living at this service have autism and may therefore require some support to understand why we were visiting and time to process this information prior to our visit. The inspection was completed by one adult social care inspector.

We looked at all the information available to us prior to the inspection visits. These included notifications sent by the service, any safeguarding alerts and information sent to us from other sources such as healthcare professionals. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to tell us about by law. We also reviewed the service's Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that is completed at least annually. It asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection we spoke with four people. We spoke with two visiting relatives. We spoke in depth to the registered manager, house manager, four care staff. We received feedback from two healthcare professionals and three families.

We looked at three care files including risk assessments, care plans and daily records. We reviewed medicines records, three recruitment records and a variety of records relating to the auditing of the environment and quality of care.

Updated 19 February 2019

This inspection took place on 19 January 2019. We gave short notice as this service provides support for six younger adults and we needed to be sure people would be available. People living at this service live with autism and may therefore require some support to understand why we were visiting and time to process this information prior to our visit. People living at this service have autism and learning disabilities so some bedrooms required low stimulus. At the time of the inspection there were six people living at Beachfields.

Beachfields 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 care service 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 with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.” Registering the Right Support CQC policy

The service had a registered manager who was registered to manage this service and another one locally for six people. 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.

At the last inspection completed in April 2016 we rated the service as good in all areas. At this inspection we found the service continued to be good in all key areas. People were being supported by staff who were highly skilled, sensitive to their needs and who worked in a truly person-centred way. Each person was afforded opportunities to continue their interests and hobbies, but also to stretch themselves and try new things. This was inspirational as sometimes people with autism struggle to try new things or go to new places. With careful planning and skilled support, people were accessing community facilities and trying activities such shopping for their own groceries. Staff went the extra mile to find activities and social events to suit individuals wishes and preferences. They worked sensitively with people to ensure they had opportunities to live fulfilling lives.

The management team were inclusive and forward thinking. They ensured staff understood the core values and ethos of the service and provided training and support to enable them to provide the care in a way which respected people as individuals and celebrated their diversity.

There were sufficient staff with the right skills and understanding of people’s needs and wishes. People said staff were kind and helpful. Our observations showed staff respected people’s dignity and privacy and worked in a way which showed kindness and compassion.

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. People's consent to care and treatment was sought. Staff worked within the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and understood how these applied to their practice.

Care and support was person-centred and well planned. Staff had good training and support to do their job safely and effectively. Risk assessments were in place for each person. These identified the correct action to take to reduce the risk as much as possible in the least restrictive way. People received their medicines safely and time.

Systems and audits ensured the quality of care and support were being reviewed and improved. People were enabled to have their voice heard.