The Beeches

Updated 22 May 2019

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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team:

The inspection team consisted of one adult social care inspector.

Service and service type:

The Beeches is a ‘care home.’ People in homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The Beeches consists of two interlinked bungalows.

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 visited The Beeches on 1 May 2019, this was unannounced. We also visited the home on 2nd May 2019. On the second day we told the registered manager we were going as we needed to be sure they would be available to meet with us.

What we did:

In 2018 the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. This information was used to help inform our inspection.

Prior to the inspection we reviewed information we had received about the service. This included reviewing any notifications of accidents and incidents and information we had received from external agencies including the local authority clinical commissioning group and the infection prevention and control team.

This inspection included speaking to two people who lived at the home, the registered manager, four senior care workers, two care workers and the head of residential services,. We reviewed three people's care records, three staff personnel files, audits and other records about the management of the service. We spent time observing interactions between staff and people within the communal areas of the home. Following the inspection, we spoke with four relatives of people who lived at the home.

After the inspection we requested further information from the registered manager and provider. This was received, and the information was used as part of our inspection.

Updated 22 May 2019

About the service: The Beeches is a residential care home providing personal care. At the time of the inspection, 13 adults were living at the home.

People’s experience of using this service: People were safe and protected from avoidable harm and relevant risk assessments were in place. The management of people’s medicines were safe. The premises and equipment were clean and maintained.

Recruitment procedures were in place to reduce the risk of employing unsuitable staff. There were enough staff on duty to ensure people’s needs were met. New staff received support to help them learn their role. All staff received regular supervision and on-going training.

People were supported to eat and drink. Where people had specific dietary needs, this was adhered to.

Communication was effective within the staff team and people were supported to access other healthcare professionals as needed.

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

Staff were caring and kind. People were treated with dignity and respect, they were involved in making daily decisions and encouraged to retain their independence.

Care plans were personalised and detailed. They included information about people’s preferences and abilities. Staff supported people to participate in a range of activities. At the time of the inspection care records did not include information about people’s preferences in the event their health deteriorated.

Staff felt supported and spoke positively about the registered provider and the registered manager. Systems of governance were in place to continually monitor the quality of the service provided. Regular meetings were held with people who lived at the home and the staff team. There was a system in place to manage complaints.

Rating at last inspection:

At the last inspection the service was rated good (published 11 November 2016).

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection based on the rating awarded at the last inspection.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor the intelligence we receive about this service until we return to visit as part of our re-inspection programme for those services rated requires improvement. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.

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