The Beeches

Updated 31 December 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.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one 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 or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

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

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 as well as the information shared with us by the local authority, such as details of any safeguarding concerns that had been raised. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

During the inspection

We also spoke with four people who use the service and three relatives about their experience of the care provided. We used general observations for five people, who were unable to speak with us. We spoke with six members of staff including the cook, senior care staff, care assistants, activities person and the registered manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people's care records and medicine records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. We reviewed training data and the providers quality assurance records.

Updated 31 December 2022

The Beeches is a care home that provides personal care for up to 26 people in one adapted building. It is registered to provide a service to older people aged 65 and over who may be living with dementia. At the time of the inspection 22 people lived at the home.

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

People were at risk of infection because the building was aged and not conducive to effective cleaning. For example, some carpets were dirty and stained. Skirting boards were chipped, and paint was peeling off or water damaged in some areas, which meant these areas could not be cleaned effectively.

Water testing temperatures were not consistent or in line with the providers own policy or health and safety guidelines in some of the bedrooms.

We have made a recommendation for the provider to consider current guidance relating to the control of legionella and health and safety measures. This is to ensure records of water temperatures outlets are in line with current guidelines.

Peoples individual risks were identified and managed. The provider followed safe recruitment processes to ensure staff were suitable to work with vulnerable people. People were protected from avoidable harm as the provider took steps to safeguard people. Medicines were administered safely and as prescribed.

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 received sufficient nutrition and hydration and any weight loss was swiftly addressed with a relevant health professional. Nutrition and hydration audits were in place and completed monthly by the registered manager.

People were cared for by caring compassionate staff who treated people with dignity and respect at all times.

Staff responded well when people required assistance. People were supported to discuss and make end of life wishes and choices.

Improvements had been made to the quality assurance systems since the last inspection in December 2019 and the provider had sufficient oversight. Environmental and infection control audits were completed to ensure the provider identified concerns to drive improvements at the service, but the time frames were not always adhered to.There were monitoring checks of all essential equipment used at the service to ensure they were working safely.

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 the service was Requires Improvement, published on. 19 December 2019.

The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve.

At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection to check whether the breach of regulation we previously served in relation to Regulation 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 had been met. The overall rating for the service has changed following 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.

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.