Archived: Beechdene Care Home

Beechdene Care Home is a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties, providing support to people living with a learning disability and/or autism. It was registered to support up to 17 people. 17 people were using the service at the time of inspection. The accommodation comprised of 17 bedrooms across three floors. This is larger than current best practice guidance. However, the size of the service having a negative impact on people was mitigated by the three lounges, computer room and other communal spaces where people could choose to spend time alone or in company.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

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

Staff knew people well and supported people in line with the person’s preferences and wishes. Staff encouraged people to retain their independence, but we discussed with the assistant managers that the younger adults at the home could have plans and support that were more geared to them achieving skills to move on from the service if they so wished.

Medicines were managed safely, there were enough staff on duty and staff were recruited safely.

People were supported to access healthcare services if needed. People were supported to have enough to eat and drink and staff were trained to support people who had different dietary needs.

Interactions we saw between people and the staff team were positive and relatives also said they were made very welcome at the home.

Care and support plans were person centred and people were involved in their reviews.

People were supported to engage in activities they enjoyed and we saw the service promoted people accessing local community facilities and supporting them to go on trips and holidays. People and their relatives told us they knew how to make a complaint.

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.

Systems to monitor the quality of the care provided were effective. The service was going through a change of provider, but we saw the assistant managers had a clear vision about the quality of care they wanted to provide. The service worked well with other community partners.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that 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 September 2015).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

People we spoke with told us they were involved in discussions and decisions about their care and support. Comments included, 'We have review meetings once a year. We can invite our families.' And, 'I feel involved with everything. The staff listen to me and treat me right.'

We saw people received well balanced and nutritious meals. People we spoke with told us they received a choice of meals. Comments included, 'We have a choice of what to eat. Some of us can make ourselves a drink independently.'

The provider had policies and procedures for the administration of medication. People told us they received their medication at the same time every day. Some people managed their own medication, they told us, 'I self-medicate, the staff respect my choices and decisions.'

People we spoke with including two relatives and the visiting professional spoke highly about the staff. They told us they thought there were sufficient numbers of staff available to meet people's needs and keep people safe.

We saw the provider had internal quality assurance audits in place to monitor the service and that people were asked for their views and wishes.

The care plans and care records we looked at showed that the staff placed the needs, wishes, preferences and decisions of people who used the service at the centre of the assessment, planning and delivery of care and support. The staff were putting people who used the service at the heart of their own care planning process, empowering them and respecting their individual preferences.

People using the service told us,' I love the people here, I am looking forward to Christmas with all of them, and they are my new family. ' A second person told us, 'The staff here are very nice, I trust them and I can talk to them if I have a problem.They look after us well'.