Archived: The Beeches

Updated 6 December 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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.

The inspection took place on 2 November 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of an adult social care 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.

Before the inspection we reviewed all the information we held about the service. This included past inspection reports and information notified to the Care Quality Commission by the provider. We also contacted other bodies including the local authority commissioning and safeguarding teams, the fire and rescue service and Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent body which represents the views of people who use health and social care services in England. We did not receive any information of concern.

Before our inspection we sent a provider information return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. The provider returned it to us in August 2018.

During the inspection we looked at records relating to the provision of personal care and the running of the service. These included three care plans, medicines records, three staff files and other evidence which showed how the service was managed. We spoke with the registered manager, deputy manager, chef, and three members of care staff. We spoke with nine people who used the service, and four visiting relatives. We also spent time making observations around the service, including all communal areas, some bathrooms and some people’s rooms.

Updated 6 December 2018

Our inspection took place on 2 November 2018 and was unannounced.

At our last inspection in September 2017 we rated the service as ‘Requires Improvement’, and identified two breaches of regulation in relation to safe care and treatment and need for consent. On this inspection we looked to see what action had been taken to make sure the service had achieved compliance with these regulations.

The Beeches is a care home. People living 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 Beeches provides accommodation and personal care for up to 23 older people, some of whom were living with dementia. The accommodation is over two floors, with a passenger lift to provide access. There are communal lounges and a dining room on the ground floor.

There was a registered manager in post when we inspected the service. 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 they felt safe living at The Beeches. Premises were well maintained and staff understood how to recognise signs of potential abuse and their responsibilities to report these. The home was clean and well maintained. Improvements had been made to make sure medicines were managed safely.

Staff were recruited safely and received training and support appropriate to their role. People told us there were enough staff available to meet their needs safely and in a timely fashion.

When accidents occurred we saw these were reported and investigated appropriately. The registered manager audited accidents to look at ways in which the risk of reoccurrence could be minimised.

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. Improvements had been made in relation to the process for making decisions in the best interests of people who lacked capacity and conditions on Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards were being met.

People told us they enjoyed the food at the home and had plenty of choice. We saw the food was of good quality and people were supported to enjoy the mealtime experience. Visitors were invited to share a meal with their relative.

People were supported to access health and social care professionals when needed. A visiting district nurse told us they were very happy with the health care provided at The Beeches.

People and relatives were unanimous in their praise of the standard of care provided. Our observations during the inspection confirmed this.

Some care plans required further development to demonstrate the person-centred approach we observed.

People told us they enjoyed the activities provided at the home.

Processes were in place to make sure complaints were managed appropriately. People told us they would not hesitate to speak to staff if they had any concerns.

Systems were in place to monitor and improve quality and safety in the home, including audits, meetings and surveys. The management team had responded well to suggestions made at the previous inspection to improve the auditing process.

People who lived at the home, relatives and staff were complimentary of both the registered and deputy manager.

We found sufficient action had been taken to comply with regulations identified as being breached at the last inspection and did not identify any breaches of regulation on this inspection.