Archived: 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.