• Care Home
  • Care home

Birch Abbey

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

55 Alexandra Road, Southport, Merseyside, PR9 9HD (01704) 410010

Provided and run by:
DHCH14

Important: The provider of this service changed. See old profile

Latest inspection summary

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Background to this inspection

Updated 5 August 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 two inspectors and one 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

Birch Abbey is a ‘care home’ with nursing care. People in care homes receive accommodation, and/or nursing and personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post, who was also the provider’s regional manager. However, a new manager had recently started with the intention of becoming the sole registered manager for the service.

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 professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). 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 three people who used the service and four relatives who shared their views of the service. We spoke with twelve members of staff, including the registered manager, the manager, deputy manager, a nurse, two senior carers, four carers, the maintenance person and a housekeeping member of staff.

We had a walk around the service to make sure it was suitable and safe. We observed the care and support people received during different times throughout the day, to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We reviewed multiple medicine administration records, medicines stocks and storage. We looked at records relating to environmental checks. We reviewed four staff files in relation to recruitment.

After the inspection

After the inspection we continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures. We reviewed four care plans and looked at quality assurance documents.

Overall inspection

Good

Updated 5 August 2022

About the service

Birch Abbey is a care home which provides both residential and nursing care and is registered to support up to 60 older people. At the time of our inspection the service was providing care and support to 54 people.

The service is purpose built and accommodation is over three floors. In addition to providing longer term care for people living with dementia, the home also offered respite beds, where people discharged from hospital received rehabilitation before returning to their own homes.

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

The service had undergone changes in management since its change in legal entity. This meant the approach to leadership had not always been consistent, leading to low morale amongst staff. However, the new manager told us they were committed to the service long term and keen to foster a culture which gave both people and staff a voice.

The provider’s staff dependency tool indicated there were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs, however people and staff did not always feel people's needs were met in a timely way. We have made a recommendation about the deployment and allocation of staff.

Documentation around people’s care and support was not always fully completed accurately. We have made a recommendation about this.

People living at Birch Abbey benefitted from a service that was safe. Risks to people were identified, managed and mitigated to help keep people safe from the risk of harm.

Staff followed best practice guidance in relation to infection prevention and control to help minimise the risk of COVID-19 and other infections.

Environmental checks were completed to ensure people lived in a home which was clean and well maintained.

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 were looked after by kind and caring staff, who were motivated to provide high quality care and support. People were treated respectfully and in a dignified way.

The service worked alongside a range of healthcare professionals and external services, to ensure people had access to care and support appropriate to their needs.

Governance systems identified concerns, were consistently completed and helped drive further improvements in the service. The manager was aware of their regulatory responsibilities and obligations.

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 19 July 2021 and this is the first inspection under the new legal entity.

The last rating for the service under the previous legal entity was good, published on 5 February 2021.

Why we inspected

This is the first inspection under the provider's new legal entity and was carried out to provide the service with a 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 that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

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