Biffins Care Home

Updated 18 December 2019

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.

Inspection team This inspection was carried out by two inspectors.

Service and service type

Biffins Care home 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 manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they 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

The provider was not asked to complete 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 the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

During the inspection-

We spoke with five people who used the service and one relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager and the provider. We also spoke with two visiting professionals.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and 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 the evidence found. We looked at maintenance plans and records we had requested from the registered manager.

Updated 18 December 2019

About the service

Biffins Care home is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to 14 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service was supporting 12 people in one adapted building.

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

The service was safe, and people were protected from harm. Staff were knowledgeable about safeguarding adults from abuse and knew what to do if they had any concerns and how to report them. Risk assessments were thorough and personalised. Staffing levels were meeting the needs of the people who used the service and staff demonstrated they had the relevant knowledge to support people with their care. Recruitment practices were safe, and records confirmed this. Medicines were managed and administered safely.

The service was effective. Training was provided on a regular basis and updated when relevant. People were supported with maintaining a balanced diet. We have made a recommendation about menu choices.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Staff were caring, and we saw kind interactions with people at the service. People knew staff by name and staff and people chatted naturally during the day. People who used the service and their relatives told us staff were caring and treated them with respect.

Care plans were detailed and contained relevant information about people who used the service and their needs such as their preferences and communication needs. Some people told us they would like more to do so we have made a recommendation about providing a more varied activity programme. Concerns and complaints were listened to and records confirmed this.

People who used the service, their relatives and support workers spoke highly of the registered manager and told us they felt supported. Some elements of the environment required improvement, the provider sent us an action plan with target dates for completion. Quality assurance practices were taking place regularly.

Further information is in the detailed findings below

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

Rating at last inspection. The last rating for this service was Good. (11 May 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor the 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.