The inspection was carried out by one inspector. We considered all the evidence we had gathered under the outcomes we inspected. We used the information to answer the five questions we always ask:Is the service safe?
Is the service effective?
Is the service caring?
Is the service responsive to people's needs?
Is the service well led?
Below is a summary of what we found. The summary is based on our observations during the inspection, speaking with people using the service, the staff supporting them and looking at records. We also were given a copy of a report completed by Oldham Clinical Commissioning Quality Monitoring team and the report produced by the pharmacist from the company that supplies Birchwood with medication.
If you want to see the evidence supporting our summary please read the full report.
Is the service safe?
Birchwood provides support for up to 16 people with mental health needs. The premises are located on the edge of a housing estate in the Lee area of Oldham. The building belongs to Irwell Valley Housing Association (IVHA). The Landlord was responsible for the maintenance of the building and the communal areas within the building. Maintenance of the bedrooms was the responsibility of Turning Point. The premises were generally clean, tidy and well maintained.
Although no one at Birchwood had been assessed as not having mental capacity; training in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) took place. This ensured that should people who were not able to make decisions or choices in the future were protected and kept safe. However a small number of people were subject to a Community Treatment Order (CTO). We saw that these were reviewed and that if someone required an Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA) they could be accessed through the local MIND facility.
We saw people had received an assessment of their care needs and that these had been discussed with the person concerned.
There were a sufficient number of people in the staff team to ensure that people were supported with their care needs.
Is the service effective?
Training was in place that ensured services were provided at Birchwood by a qualified staff team with up to date skills to provide support. We saw that people had training which included safeguarding adults, safe handling of medication, drug and alcohol awareness and positive behaviour management.
We saw from looking at the care files that people had received an assessment and that there were comprehensive personal support plans in place. We also saw that the medication file contained a support plan with each medication administration record. This ensured that everyone was aware of up to date information regarding medication for that person.
Everyone had their own room which they were able to personalise. There was also a kitchen on the ground floor which had recently been refurbished where people could make drinks and meals for themselves. There was also another kitchen on the lower ground floor which was also used.
Is the service caring?
All of the people we spoke with were happy with the service and the care provided.
We spoke with three people who used the service. They had no complaints about the staff team. One person told us; 'If it was not for the staff I wouldn't have got this far, they do a very good job.' Another said they (staff) are brilliant.
We saw during our inspection that people were treated with respect; staff knocked on doors before entering and conversations were relaxed and friendly. People's preferences were recorded in the care file and they were able to express their views and opinions through talking to members of the staff team, taking part in reviews and service user meetings.
Is the service responsive to people's needs?
We saw that people's needs were assessed using the Manchester Care Assessment Schedule (MCAS) which formed the basis of the personal support plan. The MCAS assessment was completed before people were offered a place at Birchwood.
The support to be provided and the rehabilitation programme were agreed with the person and documented on the care plan. People were encouraged to go out and manage their own shopping and cook their own meals with a view to people eventually taking responsibility for their day to day needs.
We saw that people were encouraged to administer their own medication and that systems were in place to support people in this and keep them safe.
Is the service well led?
Birchwood is part of the national organisation Turning Point which is a registered charity. The charity produces an annual report which can be found on their website.
Surveys and meetings were conducted regularly with people and staff who lived and worked at Birchwood in order to improve the service provided.
The area operations manager visited the home alternate days. A quality monitoring tool was completed quarterly and was sent to the regional manager. The report covered such areas as; care and welfare of people who use the service and consent to care and treatment.
The organisation had the Investors in People (IIP) Accreditation Gold Standard which was awarded in 2012. IIP assess and accredit organisations on the management and quality of the service they provide to both people who use the service and those who work for the service.