Beckdale House

Updated 4 January 2024

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.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by an inspector and a specialist pharmacist.

Service and service type

Beckdale House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Beckdale House is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post. However, the registered manager had been absent from the service since September 2021. A new manager had been appointed.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 24 hours' notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small, and people are often out, and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

Inspection activity started on 30 November 2023 and ended on 6 December 2023. We visited the service unannounced on the evening of 6 December 2023.

What we did before the inspection

The provider did not complete the required Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about the service, what it does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection and sought feedback from a local authority who work with the service. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 5 people to gather their experience of the care and support provided. We spent time observing the care and support people received in communal areas to help us understand the experiences of people. Shortly after the inspection we spoke to 1 person’s relative.

We spoke with 6 staff including the regional manager, manager, and 4 support workers. We reviewed a range of records. This included 2 people's care and medicines records. We looked at 3 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.

Updated 4 January 2024

About the service

Beckdale House is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 9 people. The service provides support to younger adults with mental health needs, learning disability and/or autism. At the time of our inspection there were 7 people using the service.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people. We considered this guidance as there were people using the service who have a learning disability and or who are autistic.

People’s experience of the service and what we found

Right Support

Systems and processes to manage people's medicines were not always effective. People were empowered to make meaningful decisions and choices. People's needs were assessed, risks were identified, and steps taken to keep them safe, and these systems were being embedded.

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.

Right Care

Care was person-centred and promoted people's dignity, privacy and human rights. People were protected from all forms of abuse and discrimination by the dedicated staff team. The service had enough skilled staff to meet people's needs and keep them safe. Infection control and prevention systems were in place.

Right Culture

Governance oversight and quality assurance systems were not robust enough to identify shortfalls. People and relatives were complementary of the service's compassionate culture. The staff team were well trained and dedicated to meeting people's needs. Staff knew people well and were able to communicate effectively with people using appropriate aids as necessary. Staff supported people to engage in their local community. Care was personalised to people's needs and staff reviewed and adapted support as people's needs or wishes changed.

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 (report published 7 September 2017).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service, specifically, the time elapsed since the last full inspection.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We have identified a breach in relation to safe care and treatment at this inspection. We have made a recommendation around implementing a support model to promote independence and quality assurances.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.