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Archived: Bircham House

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

191 High Street, Sawston, Cambridge, CB22 3HE (01223) 324922

Provided and run by:
Longhurst Group Limited

Important: The provider of this service changed. See new profile
Important: The provider of this service changed. See old profile

Latest inspection summary

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Background to this inspection

Updated 15 December 2022

The inspection

We carried out this performance review and assessment under Section 46 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act). We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements of the regulations associated with the Act and looked at the quality of the service to provide a rating.

Unlike our standard approach to assessing performance, we did not physically visit the office of the location. This is a new approach we have introduced to reviewing and assessing performance of some care at home providers. Instead of visiting the office location we use technology such as electronic file sharing and video or phone calls to engage with people using the service and staff.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing. Extra care housing is purpose-built or adapted single household accommodation in a shared site or building. The accommodation is rented and is the occupant’s own home. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for extra care housing; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support service.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice for the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure the registered manager would be available to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 02 November 2022 and ended on 17 November 2022.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority and Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England.

Due to technical problems, the provider was not able to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR). A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

This performance review and assessment was carried out without a visit to the location’s office. We used technology such as telephone and video calls to enable us to engage with people using the service and staff, and electronic file sharing to enable us to review documentation.

Inspection activity started on 02 November 2022 and ended on 17 November 2022. We spoke with three people who used the service and four people’s relatives about their experience of the care provided. We also spoke with six members of staff including the manager, team leader and care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care and medicine documentation. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment, staff supervision and induction processes. Furthermore, we reviewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service, this included the provider’s policies and procedures, and quality assurance records.

Overall inspection

Good

Updated 15 December 2022

About the service

Bircham House is a domiciliary care agency, registered to provide personal care to people living in their own flats within an extra care housing scheme in Cambridge.

Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of our inspection there were 17 people receiving personal care from the service.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

The provider’s electronic employment application form did not request full employment history from applicants.

We have made a recommendation for the provider to review their electronic application form to ensure it requests applicant’s full employment history.

People told us they felt safe. Risks had been assessed and enough staff were available to meet the needs of people. Medicines were administered as prescribed; staff had completed training and their competency had been assessed. Infection control procedures were effective, and reporting systems were in place to monitor incidents and accidents if they occurred. Lessons learnt were reviewed and shared with staff.

People’s needs were assessed, met and reviewed by trained and knowledgeable staff. People were involved in the care planning process. Care plans were in place and provided guidance to staff. Staff were aware of the dietary and healthcare requirements of the people they supported. Staff assisted people to have healthcare reviews as required and acted upon the advice provided.

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

People told us staff were kind and caring and promoted their independence and choice. Staff knew people well and respected their privacy and dignity.

A new registered manager was in post and people, relatives and staff were aware of their appointment. People, relatives and staff felt able to approach the registered manager with any concerns and told us they felt these would be acknowledged and acted upon. The provider’s systems allowed for quality monitoring to take place at the service which drove continuous improvements.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 01 July 2019 and this is the first inspection.

The last rating for the service under the previous provider was good, published on 14 September 2017.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection as a newly registered service.

Recommendations

We have made a recommendation to the provider to review their electronic employment application form. This is to ensure full employment history, and gaps in employment is explored for prospective staff.