Beech Haven

Updated 16 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 team consisted of two inspectors 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

Beech Haven is a ‘care home’ with nursing care. 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. 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 information we had received about the service since the last inspection. 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 nine people who used the service. Some people living in the home could not verbally give us feedback. As such we looked around the home and observed the way staff interacted with people. We further received feedback from four relatives. We looked at seven people's care records and four medicine administration records (MAR). We spoke with 10 members of staff including the registered manager who is also the nominated individual (responsible for supervising the management of the service), care staff, a registered nurse, activities co-ordinator, chef, domestic staff and maintenance person. We reviewed a range of records relating to people's care and the way the service was managed. These included staff training records, four staff recruitment files, quality assurance audits, incidents and accidents reports, and records relating to the management of the service.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We contacted staff by email to provide their views about the service. We also received feedback from three healthcare professionals.

Updated 16 November 2022

About the service

Beech Haven is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care for up to 29 people. The service provides support to older adults who may be living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 26 people using the service.

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

We identified some improvements were needed to be made in respect of recruitment checks. The provider immediately addressed this. At times, staffing levels could be compromised, but the provider and registered manager did all they could to mitigate the risks from this. We saw on the day of the inspection, there were enough staff to support people and meet their needs. Staff were provided training to help them meet people's needs. Staff were well supported and encouraged to learn and improve in their role and to put people's needs and wishes at the heart of everything they did.

People were safe at the service. Staff knew how to safeguard people from abuse and keep them safe from identified risks to their safety and wellbeing. The service was clean and hygienic, and staff followed current infection control and hygiene practices to reduce the risk of infection. The provider carried out health and safety checks of the premises and equipment to make sure these were safe. Medicines were managed safely. People were supported to take their medicines as prescribed.

The service was managed well by an experienced registered manager. They understood how people's needs should be met and had oversight of the service. There were audits and checks at regular intervals, to monitor, review and improve the quality and safety of the service. There were systems in place to investigate accidents and incidents.

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.

The service worked with healthcare professionals involved in people's care and acted on their recommendations to deliver care and support that met people's needs.

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 10 September 2019).

Why we inspected

We received concerns in relation to staffing levels and recruitment processes. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only. For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

We found minor concerns in relation to recruitment and the provider immediately acted to address this and avoid any future occurences. We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from these concerns. Please see the Safe and Well Led sections of this full report.

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 comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Beech Haven Care Home 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.