Beechdale

Updated 6 November 2018

We carried out this comprehensive inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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.

Beechdale is a 'care home.' People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

This inspection visit took place on 27 September and was announced. We gave the service 48 hours' notice of the inspection visit because the service was a small care home for adults who are often out during the day, we needed to be sure someone would be in.

The inspection team consisted of an adult social care inspector.

Before our inspection on 27 September 2018 we completed our planning and reviewed the information we held on the service. This included notifications we had received from the provider, about incidents that affect the health, safety and welfare of people who lived at the home and previous inspection reports. We also checked to see if any information concerning the care and welfare of people who lived at the home had been received. We contacted the commissioning departments at Lancashire County Council. We also contacted Healthwatch Lancashire. Healthwatch Lancashire is an independent consumer champion for health and social care. This helped us to gain a balanced overview of what people experienced accessing the service.

As part of the inspection we used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

We did not use the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI) during our visit. SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. This was because this was a small building and we spent the time together in communal areas.

During the visit we spoke with a range of people about the service. They included three people who lived at the home, three relatives, the deputy manager and three support workers. We also observed care practices and how the staff interacted with people in their care.

We looked at care records of one person, staff training and supervision records of staff and arrangements for meal provision. We also looked at records relating to the management of the home and the medication records. We reviewed the services staffing levels and checked the building to ensure it was clean, hygienic and a safe place for people to live.

Updated 6 November 2018

Beechdale is a care home that is registered to provide care and accommodation for seven adults who have a learning disability. All facilities are located on the ground floor and the building has good accessibility for people who use wheelchairs.

This inspection visit took place on 27 September 2018 and was announced.

At our last inspection in November 2015 the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good. 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

People who lived at Beechdale and relatives told us they were safe, cared for and looked after well. A relative said, “We completely feel my [relative] is safe and well at Beechdale.”

We observed many examples of staff being compassionate, kind and respectful to people they supported. This was confirmed by our observations and relatives we spoke with. A relative said, “The manager and staff are so caring everything revolves around the residents.”

Procedures were in place to record safeguarding concerns, accidents and incidents and take necessary action as required. Staff had received safeguarding training and understood their responsibilities to report unsafe care or abusive practices.

People who lived at Beechdale received their medicines as required. Care records we looked at contained a medicines care plan and risk assessment to inform staff about medication details for each individual. Training was provided for staff to ensure they had the competency to administer medicines. This was confirmed by staff we spoke with.

The registered manager ensured there was sufficient staffing levels in place to provide support people required. People had one to one support to enable them to pursue activities of their choice.

The design of the building plus facilities provided were appropriate for people cared for at Beechdale. A relative said, “It works for the people cared for here, a lovely place.”

The service had safe infection control procedures in place and staff had received infection control training.

Meal times were relaxed and organised around people’s individual daily routines. People were able to choose what they wanted to eat and staff prepared meals.

People were supported to have access to healthcare professionals and their healthcare needs had been met.

Risk assessments had been developed to minimise the potential risk of harm to people during the delivery of their care and when people were out in the community. These had been kept under review and were relevant to the care provided.

Staff had been recruited safely, appropriately trained and supported. They had skills, knowledge and experience required to support people to follow their interests and provide care they needed.

People had been 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.

The service had information about support from an external advocate should this be required by people they supported.

The service had a complaints procedure which was made available to people and their family when they commenced using the service. People we spoke with told us they were happy with the service and had no complaints.

The management team used a variety of methods to assess and monitor the quality of the service. These included, staff and ‘service user’ meetings in picture format. In addition, surveys were collected to seek relative/people’s views about Beechdale.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.