Archived: Beaufort Care Home

Updated 14 January 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.

As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of coronavirus, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control practice was safe and the service was compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 18 December 2020 and was unannounced.

Updated 14 January 2021

About the service

Beaufort Care Home is a care home providing personal and nursing care to 29 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 32 people in one adapted building.

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

People told us they received their medicines as prescribed however, on the first day of the inspection we found robust practices for the administration and recording of medicines were not always adhered to. On the second day of the inspection we saw improvements had been made around systems to ensure safe management of people’s medicines however, the provider needed to ensure the improvements were sustained.

Good record keeping in relation to people’s changing needs was not always maintained and this placed them at risk of avoidable harm because staff might not be aware of their actual needs to support them safely. Staff told us they were confident when supporting people and received effective handovers before they commenced duty.

The system for oversight of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) authorisations was not always followed because one person’s DoLS authorisation had expired three months before the inspection. The provider acted immediately and applied for an extension to the authorisation. No changes were noted to the restrictions needed to support the individual. In the main 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.

There was a process in place to ensure good governance however, the registered manager did not ensure the system was consistently followed and therefore the above failings were found. The registered manager acknowledged their shortfalls and on day two of the inspection demonstrated commitment to ensure improvements were made.

Sufficient numbers of staff were deployed and recruitment processes were robust. Staff received sufficient training to undertake their role and responsibilities. Staff told us they were supported. People had access to a wide range of health and social care professionals and staff made referrals to specialist services when needed. People told us they were provided with nutritious and appetising meals.

Staff had built trusting relationships with people they supported. We observed positive interactions between staff and people at the service. People told us they felt involved and had their opinions listened to. There was large communal space and we observed people interact and engage in social activities.

People’s care plans were not consistently person-centred because they were not always up to date. However, we observed people received individualised care and people told us there wishes and preferences were respected. People had access to the complaints procedure and told us they felt confident to raise any concerns.

The registered manager encouraged staff, people and relatives to be involved in the running of the service. Regular meetings were held with all stakeholders. There was a strong emphasis towards equality throughout the staff team and this showed during our observations of the support people received.

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 (published 18 October 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Enforcement

We have identified breaches in relation to the management of people’s medicines and record keeping at this inspection. Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.