Beechwood

Updated 21 May 2020

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 Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

One inspector carried out this inspection.

Service and service type

Beechwood 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.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

What we did before 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. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with six people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with seven members of staff including the registered manager, senior support workers and support workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We received additional information from the provider to assist in making our judgments about the service. We also spoke with four relatives of people living at the service.

Updated 21 May 2020

About the service

Beechwood is a residential care home providing personal care to eight people at the time of the inspection. This is the maximum number of people the service can support.

Services for people with learning disabilities and or autism are supported

The service is larger than recommended by best practice guidance. However, we have rated this service outstanding because the provider arranged the service in a way that ensured people received individual, person-centred care and were fully supported to maximise their independence, choice, control and involvement in the community.

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

People received highly personalised care from especially kind and considerate staff. People, relatives and professionals held the service in high regard. They praised the registered manager and staff team for the care and commitment shown to people. One relative commented, “[Family member] has been with ESPA 19 years and has made such progress. Beechwood is just wonderful, [family member] has been encouraged to be as independent as possible. It is just magic”

The registered manager and staff regularly went above and beyond to ensure they delivered person-centred care to meet people’s needs and preferences. People participated in meaningful activities and had regular opportunities to access the local community. This included attending social groups and to volunteer.

People and relatives told us Beechwood was a safe place. Staff understood the safeguarding and whistle blowing policies and felt confident to speak up if needed. The service had enough staff to meet people’s individual needs. New staff were recruited safely. The registered manager monitored incidents and accidents to help keep people safe. People received their medicines safely. Staff completed various risk assessments and health and safety checks to enhance people’s safety.

Staff received good support and had access to a comprehensive training programme. Staff supported people to have enough to eat and drink. 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 registered manager showed effective leadership. People, relatives and staff felt able to speak with them at any time. The provider had an effective quality assurance process to help ensure people received excellent care which met their individual needs.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

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 13 July 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.