Beechwood Care Home

Updated 1 April 2023

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

This inspection was undertaken by 2 inspectors on the first day of inspection. The second day of inspection was undertaken by a medicine inspector. An Expert by Experience made telephone calls to people and relatives following the site visits. 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

Beechwood Care Home is a ‘care home’. 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. Beechwood Care Home is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post. This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC 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.

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 other professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) before this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 4 people who used the service and 12 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 6 members of staff including the registered manager, operations manager, deputy manager, senior carer, carers and the chef.

We carried out observations and looked at a wide variety of records. These included multiple care and medicine records, monitoring documentation, quality feedback information and audits used to monitor the service.

Updated 1 April 2023

About the service

Beechwood Care Home is a nursing home providing personal and nursing care for up to 60 older people, some of whom may be living with a dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 24 people using the service. The home has two floors. The ground floor is for people who require residential care and the first floor for people who require nursing care.

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

People were safe. Risks to people's health, safety and wellbeing were managed by staff with the relevant skills and knowledge to meet their needs. Any accidents or incidents were appropriately responded to and were monitored and learned from to reduce the risk of them happening again. The service had made vast improvements, and this was evident in the positive feedback received from people and their relatives.

Medicines were managed and administered safely. Improvements had been made in this area since our last inspection however, a review of medicine guidance was required, and we have made a recommendation regarding this.

People received appropriate support to meet their nutritional and hydration needs. We receive positive feedback about improvements to the food. People were supported appropriately to maintain or improve their weight.

Staff were familiar with people’s needs and care records were up to date. Person-centred support was being provided. Communication between staff and people had improved due to the reduction in agency staff use and people were treated with dignity and respect. Support provided to staff had improved and the provider ensured staff training was up to date.

There was a noted improvement in management and provider oversight. The quality assurance processes in place were more effective. More opportunities for people and their relatives to engage with management were put in place. Complaints were managed well and recorded appropriately.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff always supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Safe recruitment processes had been followed and people told us they felt safe living at the service.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was inadequate (published 19 July 2022) and there were breaches of regulation. 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.

This service has been in Special Measures since 12 June 2022. During this inspection the provider demonstrated that improvements have been made. The service is no longer rated as inadequate overall or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is no longer in Special Measures.

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 25,30 and 31 May 2022. Breaches of legal requirements were found. This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection.

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.