Beacon House

Updated 23 April 2021

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 23 March 2021 and was announced.

Updated 23 April 2021

Our inspection of Beacon House took place between 16 and 23 April 2018 and was unannounced. At our last inspection in March 2017, we found breaches of legal requirements relating to person centred care. At this inspection we found improvements had been made to assessments of care needs and activities and the service was no longer in breach of Regulations.

Beacon House is a care home. People 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 home is located in Bradford and provides accommodation for up to 16 people with learning disabilities who require varying levels of care and support. Accommodation is spread over six units, each with its own living space including a kitchen and lounge.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the ‘Registering the Right Support’ and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

There was a registered manager in place. 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. Correct safeguarding reporting procedures were followed. Staff were aware of the actions they would take to keep people safe. Correct procedures were followed to keep people’s money safe.

Overall risks to people’s health, safety and welfare were identified and action taken to manage the risk. Staff demonstrated a sound awareness of infection control procedures.

There were enough staff deployed. All the required checks were done before new staff started work and this helped protect people.

Medicines were managed safely and staff had good knowledge of the medicine systems and procedures in place to support this. The support people received with their medicines was person centred and responsive to their needs.

People were provided with care and support by staff that had received appropriate training. Staff told us they had received induction and training relevant to their roles.

People were supported with their health care needs. We saw a range of health care professionals visited the service when required and people were supported to attend health care appointments in the community.

We recommended provider implements robust systems to ensure people’s nutritional needs are met.

People told us they were supported to have choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.

The service was acting within the legal framework of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Where people lacked capacity, best interest processes were followed. People were given choices and involved in decision making.

People were supported to access activities both within the home and in the wider community. This was person centred.

People's nutrition and hydration needs were well catered for. People received a range of food which met their individual needs. However, nutritional risks required some improvements.

Care records contained sufficient detail so staff knew what support to offer people. People felt they participated in planning their care. Care records included information about preferences, likes and dislikes.

A complaints procedure and easy read version was in place, which enabled people to raise any concerns or complaints about the care, or support they received.

There was an open and transparent culture at Beacon House. People respected the management team and found them approachable. Staff told us they felt supported in their roles and their views were listened to through supervision and team meetings.

People using the service and staff we spoke with were positive about the management team. Staff said the manager was approachable and supportive.

The service was clean and infection control measures were in place. The service had quality assurance processes in place.