Beech Tree House

Updated 24 February 2022

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 Care Act 2014.

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 team consisted of one inspector.

Service and service type

Beech Tree House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a registered manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. Registered managers and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

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 and professionals who work with the service. The provider completed a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people who used the service and two relatives who were visiting the service during the inspection. We spoke with seven members of staff including the registered manager, the deputy manager/ clinical lead, a senior care worker, a care worker, a housekeeper, the head chef and laundry assistant. We also spoke with the nominated individual and the provider’s contracts compliance manager. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. Additionally, we spoke with two professionals who were attending the home at the time of inspection. Following the inspection, we spoke with a further three relatives and three health professionals on the telephone. We also emailed all the staff and invited them to contact us or offer comments.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three 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.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.

Updated 24 February 2022

About the service

Beech Tree House is a care home for up to 86 people. The service provides care and accommodation for older people, people living with dementia, people with nursing needs, younger people with physical disabilities and bariatric care. At the time of the inspection there were 13 people using the service.

The service is a purpose-built home with a range of specifically designed facilities to support people to live as well as they can. There are four floors with specialist equipment and facilities pertinent to the dedicated support required by each individual. There are a range of community facilities and individual rooms have ensuite facilities. At the time of the inspection, due to the small cohort of people living at the home only one floor of the service was being utilised.

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

People told us care they received was extremely good and they considered the service to highly individual and person centred. Professionals said they felt the service was excellent and gave us examples of how staff had worked with people that was beyond what they normally encountered. Relatives praised the service highly and said they were sure their relations were receiving extremely individualised care. Some relatives described staff as treating people like family. Staff knew people as individuals and were able to describe the support and approaches they needed in good detail. People told us staff always ensured they were treated with dignity and respect.

People told us they felt safe living at the home. Risks, both in relation to care and the environment were monitored. Staff recruitment was undertaken appropriately, and people felt there were enough staff to support the current numbers living at the home. The home was exceptionally clean, and staff followed current guidance in relation to keeping people safe from COVID-19. There were some minor issues with medicines, and we noted some records were not always as detailed as they could be. We have made a recommendation about this.

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. Records did not always evidence how staff followed the principles of the Mental capacity Act. We have made a recommendation about this. People's needs had been assessed prior to them coming to live at the home. Staff had received a range of training. Where necessary, competency checks around medicines had been undertaken. People were supported to access appropriate food and fluids and meals were described as being very good. The premises had been purpose built and were designed to fully support the needs of people living at the home.

Care plans were in place, but the quality of the information varied, with some not always being detailed in a person centred way. It was not always clearly demonstrated people had been involved in review processes. People felt as the home became busier staff did not always have the time to undertake activities with them. A new activities co-ordinator was about to take up post. People’s preferences and choices were always considered. The home had a range of processes to support people communicating and understanding. Relatives told us end of life care had been exceptionally good and empathetic.

There were a range of audits and checks in place, although not all the issues identified at the inspection had been picked up by these processes. The registered manager had a clear vision for how they wanted the service to run and for person centred care to be delivered. Staff echoed this philosophy. People and staff were involved in decisions about the running of the home, as far as possible. Professionals told us the home worked in a highly co-operative way and made timely and appropriate clinical referrals to other services.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 3 September 2020 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the service's registration date. We had previously inspected this service in relation to infection control. The previous inspection had been an assurance visit as the service had been identified as a specific location to support people out of hospital with COVID-19 infections. We did not rate the service at that time.

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.

You can read the report from our last infection control inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Beech Tree House on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.