Bearwardcote Hall Residential Home

Updated 11 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

The inspection team consisted on one inspector and an assistant inspector.

Service and service type

Bearwardcote Hall Care Home 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 a manager 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.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection-

We spoke with six people who used the service and four relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager, assistant manager, deputy manager, senior care workers, care workers, domestic staff and the chef.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We email a health care professional who had been involved with the home, their responses have been included in the report findings.

Updated 11 July 2019

About the service

Bearwardcote Hall Care Home is a residential care home providing personal care to people aged 65 and over. At the time of the inspection 32 people were using the service. The service can support up to 39 people.

The accommodation is provided over two floors. The upper floor being bedrooms, toileting and bathing facilities. The downstairs provides two communal lounges, two dining areas and some other small areas for people to use. There were extensive grounds with beautiful views which could be admired by people through the large windows or from the patio area.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Audits had not always identified when areas required changes or improvements. However, other audits had been used to reflect the required changes and these had been made. People’s views had been considered and action taken. Staff felt supported and understood the ethos of the home and had created a homely and friendly atmosphere. The home worked with a range of professionals and the community to enhance people’s life. We had received notifications and the previous rating was displayed.

Staff understood how to keep people safe and report any risks to harm. Risk assessments had been completed to reflect on action required to reduce the risks. There were enough staff to support people’s needs and appropriate recruitment checks had been completed. Medicine was managed safely, and lessons had been learn following any events. Measures were in place to reduce the risk of infection.

Staff had received training for their role and new training areas had been identified and implemented. People’s health care was supported through referrals to health and social care professionals and their guidance was being followed. There was a positive meal experience which was supported by people being able to choose their meal. People’s dietary needs were reflected and monitored. The environment was accessible, and people could personalise their own space.

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. Staff had established positive relationships with people. We observed kind and respectful interactions with people encouraging people to make their own decisions in their daily choices. Relatives were welcome and people were still able to follow their religious beliefs.

The care plans provided information to support the care people required. A pre-assessment had been completed before care was commenced to ensure the provider could meet people’s needs. There was a range of activities provided daily to offer people the opportunity to enjoy areas of interest. People knew how to raise a complaint, and any had been responded to formally providing an outcome. The provider was developing end of life plans to ensure people’s wishes would be respected and implemented.

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 1 December 2016).

At this inspection we found improvements had been made in the effective domain, however we have reflected some further improvements were required in the well-led domain.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.