Beech House

Updated 17 March 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 2 inspectors and 1 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.

Service and service type

Beech 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. Beech 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.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority. 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 all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 9 people who used the service and 3 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 8 members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, care workers, cook and housekeeper.

Updated 17 March 2023

About the service

Beech House is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to up to 27 people. The service provides support to older people. At the time of our inspection there were 27 people using the service.

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

People told us they felt safe. Risks to them were identified and well managed. Where required, people were supported safely with their medicines. Infection control measures were in place to prevent cross infection and staff wore appropriate PPE. The home was clean throughout although parts of the décor required some improvement. This was part of the provider's ongoing improvement plan for the service.

The provider had robust recruitment systems to ensure staff were safely recruited. Staff spoke knowledgably about the systems in place to safeguard people from abuse.

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.

The management of the home promoted a person-centred service. There was an open and transparent culture and good partnership working with others. The quality and safety of the service was monitored through regular checks. Audits were in place and the provider had oversight of the service and the ongoing improvements.

Necessary referrals were being made and the provider spoke about being open and honest when things go wrong. Staff worked in partnership with other agencies to support people and enhance their quality of life. Staff spoke highly of the registered manager and people using the service and their relatives spoke positively of the care they received.

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 10 January 2018).

Why we inspected

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

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

The overall rating for the service has remained good based on the findings of this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Beech House on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

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