Beech House

Updated 24 March 2020

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

The inspection was undertaken by one inspector.

Service and service type

Beech House 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 did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. There was a manager in place who had submitted their application to register and this was in the process of being considered. The provider is 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

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and from Healthwatch to gain their views about the service. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with five people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the manager, support manager, resident experience care specialist, chef, senior carer and a care assistant. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures, checks and audits were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. The manager provided us with information about the on-going care record review and changes to the environment to enhance it for people living with dementia.

Updated 24 March 2020

About the service

Beech House Care Home is residential care home which was providing personal care for 22 people at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 30 people. The service can provide care for people living with dementia.

Beech House Care Home accommodates people in one adapted building.

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

The management team reviewed the service provided. Following a recent audit, people’s care records were being reviewed and re-written to make them more person-centred and to ensure they reflected people’s full and current needs. Care was being monitored to ensure it was provided for people in a timely way. A refresher course in safe medicine management was being undertaken by staff to improve their practice.

We have recommended the provider continues to monitor people’s care records and undertakes checks to make sure people receive timely care.

Minor issues with infection control found during the inspection were addressed.

There was a new manager in place who responded positively to people using the service. One person told us, “The manager does their best for us.”

People were safeguarded from abuse by staff who understood the action they must take to report concerns. People’s risk assessments were being reviewed. Accidents and incidents were monitored, and corrective action was taken to prevent re-occurrence. There were enough staff provided to meet people’s needs. Recruitment was robust.

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.

A range of training was provided for staff to develop or maintain their skills. Staff were supported through supervision and appraisals were scheduled to take place.

People were supported by kind staff. People’s privacy was protected, and their diversity was respected. Information was provided in a format that met people’s needs.

People were encouraged to maintain their independence and choice. People’s nutritional needs were assessed, monitored and reviewed. People’s wellbeing was monitored by staff. Health care professionals were contacted for advice.

People were aware about how to make a complaint. Issues reported were investigated and discussed with the complainant. Activities took place in line with people’s preferences, hobbies and interests. End of life care was provided at the service.

The manager and management team were available for people to speak to. The views of people living at the service, relatives, visitors and staff were sought. Feedback received was acted upon. Data security was maintained.

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 good (published 14 September 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.