The Beeches

Updated 11 November 2022

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by 1 inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

The Beeches is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. The Beeches is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed all the information we had received about this service since its last inspection. We requested feedback from stakeholders, including local safeguarding and commissioning teams. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 8 people who used the service and 3 relatives about their experience of care provided. We gathered feedback from 10 staff members including the registered manager, 2 directors, deputy manager, kitchen staff and care staff.

We reviewed a range of records including 3 peoples care plans, risk assessments and medicines records. We looked at 2 staff files in relation to recruitment and training. We reviewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies, procedures and quality assurance records. Following the site visit, we reviewed further information and evidence from the provider including action plans, feedback forms, medicine records, care plans, training records, policies and quality assurance records.

Updated 11 November 2022

About the service

The Beeches is a residential home providing accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care for up to 23 people. The service provides support to people who have physical health needs and conditions such as Dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 18 people using the service.

The home is set out across 2 floors, each of which has adapted facilities. There were communal areas, a dining room and individual bedrooms, some of which had en-suite facilities.

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

People and relatives spoke positively about the care received from the staff team and the registered manager. People said they felt safe and happy.

Sufficient numbers of staff were available in line with people’s needs. Feedback suggested on occasion staff were busy and the service could benefit from additional staffing. The provider reviewed the staffing levels to improve people’s experience and ensure staff were available to support with activities.

People were protected from the risk of abuse by staff who were trained. One person said, “I do feel safe here.” Improvements had been made to records associated with risks to people’s care. Peoples care plans and risk assessments were detailed and person-centred.

People were supported by staff in a kind, caring and dignified way. Staff sought consent from people when offering care and people were encouraged to express their views and be involved in decisions about their care. Interactions with staff and people were positive and supportive. One person said, “It’s the way they [staff] all talk very nicely to you, its lovely.”

The provider continued to make improvements to the home environment and people had been actively involved in these decisions. One person said, “I was given a choice of wallpapers to choose from for my room.”

Governance processes had been imbedded into practice and the registered manager was using them effectively to drive service improvement. Any concerns or complaints were promptly investigated, and lessons learnt were shared with staff.

People, staff and relatives spoke positively about the culture of the service, the registered manager and the directors. The management team were present throughout the service and feedback indicated they promoted an open and supportive culture.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at the last inspection

The last rating for this service was Requires Improvement (Published 8 June 2022).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service. We received concerns in relation to management oversight, staffing, recording issues and poor care. During the inspection, we found improvements had been made across key questions of Caring and Responsive and focussed the inspection on Safe, Caring, Responsive and Well-led.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

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 the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good based on the findings of this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for The Beeches on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.