Birchy Hill Care Home

Updated 8 September 2020

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place. As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are conducting a thematic review of infection control and prevention measures in care homes.

This inspection took place on 18 August 2020 and was announced. The service was selected to take part in this thematic review which is seeking to identify examples of good practice in infection prevention and control.

Updated 8 September 2020

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

Birchy Hill Care Home provides care for up to 70 people who require residential or nursing care. The service cares for people with a variety of needs, including complex needs associated with chronic and acute medical conditions and provides specialised dementia care. Accommodation for people is arranged over three floors and five living units. There was a well maintained sensory garden that provided safe, accessible areas for people to enjoy. There were 59 people living at the service at the time of the inspection.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

Why the service is rated Good.

Is the service safe?

People were protected from potential abuse and avoidable harm by staff who were knowledgeable about recognising and reporting different signs of abuse. There were sufficient numbers of appropriately qualified staff available on each shift to ensure people were cared and supported safely. Risks to people were well managed and medicines were generally stored appropriately and managed effectively. People were protected by the prevention and control of infection. There was a system in place to review and learn from incidents when things went wrong.

Is the service effective?

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 support this practice. People’s needs were fully assessed and they had access to a variety of health care professionals who commented positively on the care and support given to people at the home. Staff received a range of quality training which they found effective, useful and well delivered. Staff felt supported with a clear system of supervision meetings and annual appraisals. People were given a choice of nutritious, home cooked meals that they enjoyed. Meals were well presented and people were offered a choice of food and drink throughout the day. People’s independence and well being was enhanced by the environment of the home.

Is the service caring?

People and relatives told us they found the staff to be kind, caring, professional, friendly and patient. Staff spoke knowledgeably about people and showed they knew how people preferred to be given their care and support. People were treated with dignity and respect and supported to make their own choices about how they spent their day. People’s privacy was respected. Staff, people and relatives told us communication within the home was effective and people and relatives felt fully involved in their care.

Is the service responsive?

People received person centred care from a team of staff who knew them and their health needs well. People’s needs were re-assessed when their health needs changed and relatives were kept informed and included. There was a varied, planned programme of interesting activities that enhanced people’s sense of well-being and prevented social isolation. People knew how to complain if they needed to. Complaints were thoroughly investigated and people felt any complaint would be actioned and they would be properly listened to. There were systems in place to support good end of life care which respected people's wishes and requests.

Is the service well led?

There was an open, honest, friendly culture and people told us they had confidence in the management team and the staff which they said were approachable and respected. People and their relatives were consulted and involved in their care and support. There was an effective programme of quality checks and governance systems and audits to ensure the quality of the service was maintained. We have made a recommendation about the service notifying CQC of all required notifications as required by the regulations

Further information is in the detailed findings below.