Background to this inspection
Updated
18 March 2022
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.
As part of CQC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.
This inspection took place on 21 February 2022 and was announced. We gave the service two days’ notice of the inspection.
Updated
18 March 2022
About the service
Beechy Knoll is a residential care home that provides accommodation for older people, people living with dementia and people with a learning disability who require personal care. The home can accommodate up to 40 people in one adapted building over two floors. At the time of this inspection there were 34 people using the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People told us they felt safe living at Beechy Knoll. They told us staff usually responded to them quickly. We found some improvements were needed to the deployment of staff to ensure they were always available when people needed support. Most people received their medicines as prescribed, however improvements were needed to some medicines records to ensure people received the correct support from staff. The risks to people were assessed and minimised and people were protected from the risk of abuse.
People received appropriate nutrition and hydration, however we found improvements could be made to the dining experience. People were supported by staff who had received a range of training to ensure they had the right skills to care for people. 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.
People told us staff were kind and caring. People said they felt well-treated by staff and they were involved in decisions about their care. Staff supported people to maintain their independence. People’s privacy was respected.
People felt able to complain about the service, if they had any concerns. An activity coordinator arranged a varied programme of activities and entertainment for people, within the home and local community. People were happy with the programme of activities, but said they became bored if the activity coordinator was not there.
People and their relatives told us the home was well-run. People were supported by a team of staff who were happy in their jobs and well-supported by their managers. An experienced registered manager completed a range of regular checks on the quality and safety of the service. People and their relatives told us the home had improved since the registered manager had started working there.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update
The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 25 July 2018) and we found a breach of one regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Thematic review
The Secretary of State has asked the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to conduct a thematic review and to make recommendations about the use of restrictive interventions in settings that provide care for people with or who might have mental health problems, learning disabilities and/or autism. Thematic reviews look in-depth at specific issues concerning quality of care across the health and social care sectors. They expand our understanding of both good and poor practice and of the potential drivers of improvement. As part of thematic review, we carried out a survey with the deputy manager at this inspection. This considered whether the service used any restrictive intervention practices (restraint, seclusion and segregation) when supporting people.
The service used positive behaviour support principles to support people in the least restrictive way. No restrictive intervention practices were used.
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.