Beaufort House

Updated 27 February 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.

We received information of concern about infection control and prevention measures at this service. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 26 January 2021 and was unannounced.

Updated 27 February 2021

This inspection took place on 11 and 12 June 2018 and was unannounced. The previous inspection was carried out on 02 and 03 February 2017 and there had been two breaches of legal requirements at that time. We rated the service requires improvement in two of the key questions, caring and responsive. We found at this inspection significant improvements had been made. The registered manager had submitted an action plan to the Care Quality Commission so that we could monitor the improvements made.

Beaufort House provides accommodation for up to 28 people who require personal care. At the time of our visit there were 27 people living at the service.

There was a registered manager in post. 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 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Staff had the knowledge and confidence to identify safeguarding concerns and acted on these to keep people safe. People were protected from the risk of infection. Staff understood the importance of infection control and prevention.

People were provided with safe care by adequate numbers of appropriately skilled staff being made available.

Staff recruitment procedures were safe and the employment files contained all the relevant information to help ensure only appropriate staff were employed to work at the service.

People received their medicines when they required them and in a safe manner. Staff received training and guidance to make sure they remained competent to handle people's medicines.

Staff received training to ensure they had the skills and knowledge required to effectively support people. Staff felt well supported by the registered manager and received regular supervision sessions and appraisals.

The service was meeting the requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Staff had received appropriate training, and had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and DoLS.

People were monitored and encouraged with their eating and drinking where required and concerns about their health were quickly followed up with referrals to relevant professionals.

People's personal and health care needs were met and care records guided staff in how to do this. There was a variety of activities for people to do and take part in during the day, and people had enough social stimulation.

Staff were caring, and people were treated with kindness and respect. Staff knew people well and understood how to communicate with them. People's privacy was respected, and their dignity and independence promoted.

People's needs were reviewed and monitored on a regular basis. Care records were reflective of people's individual care needs and preferences and were reviewed on a regular basis. People knew about the service's complaints procedures and knew how to make a complaint.

People were supported and helped to maintain their health and to access health services when they needed them.

There was system in place for responding to and acting on complaints, comments, feedback and

suggestions.

The service was well led and the management promoted a positive culture which was open and transparent. The manager demonstrated good visible leadership and understood their responsibilities.

Quality assurance systems were in place to assess and monitor the quality of service people received and identified any areas that required improvement.