Archived: Beech Tree Care Home

Updated 4 April 2018

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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

The inspection took place on 9 and 13 February and was unannounced. The inspection team included one inspector and one expert by experience. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. The expert by experience’s area of expertise was care of people with a learning disability.

Before the inspection 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. We reviewed the information included in the PIR along with information we held about the service, for example, statutory notifications. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about by law.

During the inspection we spoke with nine people who used the service, ten care staff, one health professional, one member of cleaning staff, a cook, the registered manager, and the deputy manager. We reviewed records which included seven people's care plans, three staff recruitment files and supervision records and records relating to the management of the service.

We also reviewed records relating to staffing levels, risk assessments, quality assurance and policies and procedures. We also looked at meeting minutes for staff, people and relatives.

After the inspection we reviewed additional records sent to us by the provider. These included end of life care plans for three people.

Updated 4 April 2018

This inspection took place on 9 and 13 February and was unannounced. This was the first inspection since Select Healthcare Group took over responsibility for regulated activities at Beech Tree Care Home.

Beech Tree 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. At the time of the inspection there were 47 people living in the home. There were three floors. People with nursing needs were cared for on the ground floor and first floor. On the second residential floor people received personal care.

The service had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

At the last inspection in May 2015, we asked the provider to take action to make improvements to maintain the safety of people living with diabetes and this action has been completed.

Systems were in place to protect people from avoidable harm and abuse. Staff were aware of their responsibilities and had received the required safeguarding training. There were sufficient numbers of staff to support people’s basic needs and keep them safe. There were safe recruitment processes in place to make sure the provider only employed workers who were suitable to work in a care setting. There were arrangements in place to store, record and administer medicines safely.

People received care from skilled staff who had received the appropriate supervision and training. Staff were given regular supervision and training to help develop their knowledge.

Staff were aware of the legal protections in place to protect people who lacked mental capacity to make decisions about their care and support.

Plans were in place to ensure that people had enough to eat and drink to maintain a balanced diet. High calorie snacks and drinks were available for those at risk of malnutrition. People were supported to access care from relevant healthcare professionals.

Carers had positive, caring relationships with the people they cared for. Staff encouraged people to express themselves and supported their independence, privacy and dignity.

Care plans reflected care and support that people required and were written in partnership with people and their families. Some care plans lacked more specific details about people’s preferences for how they would like to receive their care.

The provider had processes in place for investigating and responding to complaints and concerns.

The provider had begun to implement plans for delivering end of life care for people. Staff had undertaken end of life care training and an end of life register had been put in place to assist staff in monitoring people if they were in need of end of life care.

Systems were in place for monitoring efficiency and quality within the service so that improvements could be made.

The provider worked in partnership with a number of healthcare professionals to drive improvements in the service.