The Beeches (Seven Kings)

Updated 14 July 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 12 June 2018 and was announced. It was carried out by one inspector. The manager was given one-hour notice because we needed to be sure that members of the management team were available to assist us with the inspection.

Before the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the registered provider, including previous notifications and information about any complaints and safeguarding concerns received. A notification is information about important events which the registered provider is required to send to us by law. We also reviewed the information that was shared with us by the local authority and spoke with the local authority commissioners.

We also looked at the information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection visit we spoke with three people in the service, the manager, two members of staff and a visiting professional. We observed how the staff interacted with people and how people were supported. We looked at three care plans, including people’s risk assessments, and records relating to the management of the service such as staff training records, staff duty rosters, minutes of meetings and documents in relation to the monitoring of the service.

After the inspection, we spoke with two relatives over the phone to get their views on the service.

Updated 14 July 2018

This inspection took place on 12 June 2018 and was announced. At the last inspection on 01 June 2017, the service was rated as requires improvement. We asked the provider to take action to make improvements regarding fire safety, storage of COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) materials, how accidents or incidents were investigated and the risk of people, visitors and staff consuming contaminated water. This action has been completed.

The Beeches (Seven Kings) 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 provides care and accommodation for up to ten people with a history of mental illness. At the time of our visit, there were eight people using the service.

There was no registered manager in place. The manager was in the process of applying to register with us. 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 were supported in safe way and staff had a good understanding on the actions to take to reduce risks to their well-being. The provider had safeguarding policies and procedures.

There was enough staff employed to meet people's care needs. Recruitment procedures were robust to ensure staff employed were suitable to support people.

People were supported by staff that had been trained to administer their medicines safely.

The service was clean and tidy. Staff knew how to use safe infection control practices to help people avoid infections.

Staff received training and support to ensure they had the skills to provide people's support in a safe way. New staff received induction training to provide them with the skills to care for people.

The manager and staff understood their responsibility to comply with the requirement of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).

People were supported to make choices and had control over their lives. Staff respected people’s privacy and dignity and people were encouraged to be independent. There were good interactions between staff and people who used the service. People and relatives said staff were kind and caring.

People were involved in planning the care and support provided by the service. They received health support from staff that knew them well and understood their individual needs. People’s dietary needs were taken into account and their nutritional needs were monitored appropriately.

Records showed people had regular access to health and social care professionals. Staff had a good understanding of people’s needs, choices and preferences, and were aware of how to meet people’s individual needs as they changed. There were suitable activities for people to join in.

The provider had a complaints procedure which people could access and made aware of. The manager ensured that any issues raised were resolved to the satisfaction of the person.

The provider sought the views of people who used the service, staff, relatives and professionals and responded to them to help improve the service. There were regular audits carried out to ensure the quality of the service provided was maintained.