Bedford House

Updated 24 August 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection, we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Bedford House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and we looked at both during this inspection.

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post however the manager of the service had submitted their application to register.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that a member of staff would be available to support the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the service was registered with us. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 1 person who lived at the home about their experiences of the care and support provided. We spoke with 4 members of staff including the manager and care staff.

We looked at the care and medicine record for the person who received personal care. We reviewed records relating to the management of the service including, staff training data, fire safety records, some policies and procedures and the recruitment records for 2 staff members.

Updated 24 August 2023

About the service

Bedford House is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 11 people. The service provides support to younger adults who require support with their mental health diagnosis. At the time of our inspection there were 5 people using the service, 1 person was receiving support with personal care.

Not everyone who used the service received personal care. In this service, the Care Quality Commission can only inspect the service received by people who get support with personal care. This includes help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where people receive such support, we also consider any wider social care provided.

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

People living at Bedford House felt safe with the staff who supported them. Staff knew how to raise safeguarding concerns and how to report them appropriately. Risks to people were identified as part of the assessment and care planning procedure. People received their medicines in a safe manner. Staff received appropriate training and medicine competencies were assessed to ensure staff followed safe guidance. Risk management strategies were in place to assist staff to manage these risks and to identify triggers for behaviours that may challenge, for people they were supporting. There were enough staff to support people and staff were recruited safely.

People were supported to access health and social care services for routine appointments and staff were prompt to seek medical advice if a person became unwell. People were supported to eat a diet based on their preferences and dietary needs. Staff received training to develop the skills and knowledge they needed to meet people's needs safely and effectively. Staff were supported in their roles through a plan of supervision. 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 felt staff were kind and caring and treated them in a way which respected their dignity and independence. Staff knew the people well and care records which were well maintained and easy to access, detailed people's preferences, likes and dislikes. People had access to social activities that met their interests and needs. People understood how to raise any concerns or complaints and felt confident any concerns raised would be acted on.

There was a manager at the service who was in the process of applying to become registered with CQC. We received positive feedback about the impact the manager was having on the home and staff morale. The manager was supported by the provider. The provider had systems to assess and monitor the quality and safety of the care provided. The service had clear and effective governance systems in place which drove continuous improvements.

For more information, please read the detailed findings section of this report. If you are reading this as a separate summary, the full report can be found on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection:

We registered this service on 17 February 2022 and this was the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.