Beechcare Incorporating the Peter Gidney Neurological Centre

Updated 4 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 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.

Service and service type

Beechcare incorporating the Peter Gidney Neurological Centre 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. Beechcare incorporating the Peter Gidney Neurological Centre is a care home with 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 not a registered manager in post. A new manager had been in post for 2 months and had applied to register. We are currently assessing this application.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we received about the service since the last inspection including details about incidents the provider must notify us about, such as serious injuries. 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 are improving how we hear people’s experience and views on services, when they have limited verbal communication. We have trained some CQC team members to use a symbol-based communication tool. We checked that this was a suitable communication method and that people were happy to use it with us. We did this by reading their care and communication plans and speaking to staff and the person themselves. In this report, we used this communication tool with 2 people to tell us their experience. In addition, we spoke to 5 people without using the tool.

We spoke 8 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We observed multiple interactions between people and staff throughout the day. We spoke with 12 members of staff including the local and regional management teams, nurses, care staff, physiotherapist and support staff. We looked at records relating to people’s care and support including risk assessments, care plans and medicine administration records. We looked at 5 staff recruitment files. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed including health and safety checks, meeting notes, training records and audits.

Updated 4 March 2023

About the service

Beechcare incorporating the Peter Gidney Neurological Centre is a care home providing accommodation with personal care and nursing for up to 66 people. The service provides support to older people with nursing needs, including people living with dementia and adults with a range or neurological conditions, such as acquired brain injuries. The service operates across two units each with its own communal areas, one of which is dedicated to people with neurological conditions. At the time of our inspection there were 61 people using the service.

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

People and their relatives told us they felt safe living in Beechcare incorporating the Peter Gidney Neurological Centre. One relative told us, “[Relative] is definitely safe because I raised a concern about door security, and it is now on a timer.” Another relative said, “I feel [relative] is safe, they have completed risk assessments around the care and the quality of care is good.”

People received safe care and treatment from staff who knew them well. One person said, “They know me as a person to care for me.” One relative said, “They know [relative’s] likes and dislikes.” Another relative told us, “They know what [relative] likes to do and what they like to watch on television.” People and their relatives spoke positively about the staff.

Medicines and infection control were both managed safely, and lessons were learned when things went wrong. There was a range of activities offered, including group and individual activities and people could choose whether to attend.

People were involved in decisions about their care and they received care which promoted their dignity and encouraged independence. Relatives told us they were involved in their relative’s care and were kept up to date with changes, either in the home or with their loved one’s condition. The service produced regular newsletters to share information.

Effective quality assurance processes were in place to monitor the service and regular audits were undertaken. Staff had received appropriate training. There was a new manager in post and staff told us they found them approachable and supportive with an open-door policy. People and relatives agreed and told us the new manager was making improvements.

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.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 19 November 2021) and there was a breach of regulations. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted partly by a review of the information we held about this service, and to follow up on actions we told the provider to take at the last inspection.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good based on the findings of this inspection.

Follow up

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