We carried out a review of the data available to us about The Beeches Residential Home on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about The Beeches Residential Home, you can give feedback on this service.
We found the following areas of good practice:
The home had purchased adequate amounts of personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure that staff could protect themselves and people living in the home. Staff had received training from local district nurses with regard to donning and doffing PPE. Used PPE was disposed of as clinical waste.
Currently visitors were unable to visit in person so staff had set up different ways in which people could stay in touch with those who are important to them. This included by phone, tablet and window visits. People experiencing dementia were supported by staff to engage with these virtual opportunities. Staff recognised that people missed contact with their friends and relatives and had continued to deliver a full programme of activities to cheer people's mood. A visiting pod had been installed in the garden and there were plans to allow visits from family and friends once COVID-19 restrictions were lifted.
All staff undertook both PCR and lateral flow tests in order to protect the people they cared for. Where staff tested positive, they were supported to isolate at home and the appropriate authorities informed. Handovers and staff breaks had been modified to ensure that only small groups gathered at any one time. If staff did meet in one room, they remained socially distant and wore PPE.
The premises looked clean throughout and communal areas were ventilated. Cleaning schedules had been updated by the housekeeper in light of COVID-19 risks and frequent cleaning of high touch areas was undertaken by all staff, both day and night. The home had a large stock of cleaning detergents which had been checked for their efficacy in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Oversight of laundry was comprehensive and housekeeping staff demonstrated a good knowledge of the guidelines in place for washing people’s clothing should someone test positive for COVID-19.
• People who live at The Beeches Residential Home are supported by sufficient staff who are well trained and know how best to support people living with dementia. We observed residents’ requests for assistance being answered promptly. The quality of interaction between staff and people was excellent. We noted staff bent down to talk with people at eye level, and helped them reminisce appropriately e.g. distracted one person who was showing distress by getting them to talk about the terrible storm of 1988. The environment is comfortable and safe. There was good dementia friendly signage on the ground floor making it easier for people to find toilets, dining room and lounges. There was suitable equipment to support people’s needs.
• People were enabled to keep active through regular visits to the high street where the home is situated and several community groups visited. There were events and interesting activities each day both within groups and for one to one support for people who needed this.
• People enjoyed good home cooked food and had a choice to meet their needs. One person told us that staff had cooked them a special birthday breakfast of egg, bacon and fried bread.
• People had good access to healthcare and other professionals. One person told us because their relative was not available staff had taken them for a regular blood test. Incidents and accidents were minimal and if they occurred than staff were able to support and took appropriate actions.
• People and their families were consulted and involved with every aspect of people’s life’s. A relative told us they felt involved in their relative’s care, and saw their care plan regularly. People had a fulfilling life at The Beeches Residential Home.
See more information in Detailed Findings below.
Rating at last inspection: GOOD (report published 07 May 2016)
About the service: The Beeches Residential Care Home provides accommodation and personal care for up to 35 people who require 24 hour support and care. Some people live with dementia and a physical impairment. At the time of our visit 30 people were resident.
Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection. The service remains Good.
Follow up: Going forward we will continue to monitor this service and plan to inspect in line with our reinspection schedule for those services rated Good.
The service has a registered manager. 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.
People told us that they liked living in the service and they and their relatives spoke highly of staff and the quality of care.
Risks to individuals were not always managed in a consistent way and it was agreed that further professional advice should be obtained regarding the safety of the environment and action taken to minimise risks. People were generally supported to take their medicines but practice did not always follow the recommended guidance.
Staff were attentive but were not always available in the communal areas to respond to individuals who may not be able to use the call bells to summon assistance. The manager told us that they had already identified issues regarding the availability of staff and their ability to meet people’s needs and had a plan in place to address this shortfall. Recruitment was underway and it was agreed that the deployment of staff would be explored as part of this process. The systems in place to recruit staff were thorough and the uptake of previous employment references and other checks were undertaken before staff started work at the service. Staff had a good understanding of abuse and the steps that they should take to protect people.
The majority of staff had worked at the service for some years were clear about their role and knowledgeable about the needs of older people. A training programme was in place and staff told us that they received regular updates to ensure that they were kept up to date with practice. Newer staff told us that they were well supported when they started working at the service and that they received regular supervision support from management.
People had access to health care support when they needed it and were provided with a balanced diet. People were enabled to make choices and were involved in making decisions about how they were supported.
Care plans documented people’s needs and were regularly reviewed. Staff knew the people they supported well and had a good understanding of people’s needs. We saw that people were supported to maintain relationships which were important to them. Group or personalised activities were regularly provided although there were plans to expand this provision further.
The manager was approachable and promoted an open culture. Staff knew what was expected of them. People’s views were sought in a variety of ways including resident meetings and questionnaires. Audits were undertaken and there were systems in place to drive improvement.
At this follow up inspection we found improvements had been made.
During our inspection on 5 April 2013 we saw that people using the service or their representatives had consented to the care plans in place. People's individual risk assessments had all been reviewed and updated within the past three months. We found that people's personal care needs were being met. There were suitable arrangements in place to ensure that people's dignity was maintained. We saw people's rights to independence and personal choice were being maintained and people were supported by caring and well trained staff.
One person told us, 'I love living here as there is always someone to talk to and before I was very lonely at home.' Another person told us, 'Staff always come when I call them and I never have to ask for anything twice.'
Questionnaires completed by relatives in May 2012 provided positive feedback about the service. Relatives considered The Beeches to be a homely and caring environment. One person stated 'We feel very lucky that my relative has such a wonderful place to live.' Another person considered that The Beeches provided excellent care.'
We found that the environment was safely maintained and odour free and that all health and safety checks were up to date.
Four people told us that they found the standard of meals was good. People told us that they had been able to bring in personal items from their own homes in order to make their bedrooms more familiar and homely.
We found that the service had effective recruitment and selection processes in place that protected the welfare of the people who used the service.
We found that the service was not meeting the personal, emotional and healthcare needs of some people using the service. This was because we found inadequate care planning and risk assessments in place. These were not being reviewed and updated on a regular basis. People had not always been consulted or given their consent with regard to the care, treatment and support they received.