We carried out a review of the data available to us about Beech Tree House on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Beech Tree House, you can give feedback on this service.
Beech Tree House is a care home for up to 86 people. The service provides care and accommodation for older people, people living with dementia, people with nursing needs, younger people with physical disabilities and bariatric care. At the time of the inspection there were 13 people using the service.
The service is a purpose-built home with a range of specifically designed facilities to support people to live as well as they can. There are four floors with specialist equipment and facilities pertinent to the dedicated support required by each individual. There are a range of community facilities and individual rooms have ensuite facilities. At the time of the inspection, due to the small cohort of people living at the home only one floor of the service was being utilised.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People told us care they received was extremely good and they considered the service to highly individual and person centred. Professionals said they felt the service was excellent and gave us examples of how staff had worked with people that was beyond what they normally encountered. Relatives praised the service highly and said they were sure their relations were receiving extremely individualised care. Some relatives described staff as treating people like family. Staff knew people as individuals and were able to describe the support and approaches they needed in good detail. People told us staff always ensured they were treated with dignity and respect.
People told us they felt safe living at the home. Risks, both in relation to care and the environment were monitored. Staff recruitment was undertaken appropriately, and people felt there were enough staff to support the current numbers living at the home. The home was exceptionally clean, and staff followed current guidance in relation to keeping people safe from COVID-19. There were some minor issues with medicines, and we noted some records were not always as detailed as they could be. We have made a recommendation about this.
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. Records did not always evidence how staff followed the principles of the Mental capacity Act. We have made a recommendation about this. People's needs had been assessed prior to them coming to live at the home. Staff had received a range of training. Where necessary, competency checks around medicines had been undertaken. People were supported to access appropriate food and fluids and meals were described as being very good. The premises had been purpose built and were designed to fully support the needs of people living at the home.
Care plans were in place, but the quality of the information varied, with some not always being detailed in a person centred way. It was not always clearly demonstrated people had been involved in review processes. People felt as the home became busier staff did not always have the time to undertake activities with them. A new activities co-ordinator was about to take up post. People’s preferences and choices were always considered. The home had a range of processes to support people communicating and understanding. Relatives told us end of life care had been exceptionally good and empathetic.
There were a range of audits and checks in place, although not all the issues identified at the inspection had been picked up by these processes. The registered manager had a clear vision for how they wanted the service to run and for person centred care to be delivered. Staff echoed this philosophy. People and staff were involved in decisions about the running of the home, as far as possible. Professionals told us the home worked in a highly co-operative way and made timely and appropriate clinical referrals to other services.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 3 September 2020 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the service's registration date. We had previously inspected this service in relation to infection control. The previous inspection had been an assurance visit as the service had been identified as a specific location to support people out of hospital with COVID-19 infections. We did not rate the service at that time.
We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.
You can read the report from our last infection control inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Beech Tree House on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
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.
The service has been identified by the Local Authority as a ‘designated care setting.’ A designated care setting is intended for people who have tested positive for Covid-19 and are being admitted to a care home from hospital. The provider had designated 20 beds to support people to be able to be discharged from hospital.
We found the following examples of good practice.
¿ The layout and facilities within the designated unit helped to minimise the risk of any spread of the virus. The designated suite was a self-contained unit. It was separate and independent to all other areas of the home, with its own entrance, laundry facilities, satellite kitchen and treatment room for the storage of medicines and other medical equipment. In addition, each bedroom had full en-suite facilities, including a shower.
¿ To promote people’s wellbeing during their stay, each bedroom had a television. Technology was available to support people to keep in touch with their family and friends and the call system within each room enabled people to speak with staff at any time.
¿ A dedicated staff team had been identified to provide care and support to help reduce the risk of cross infection.
We were assured that this service met good infection prevention and control guidelines as a designated care setting
Further information is in the detailed findings below.