Birch House

Updated 1 August 2019

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

The inspection was undertaken by one inspector.

Service and service type

Birch House 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.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection-

During the inspection we met all five people that live in the service. Most people were unable to tell us about their experiences, so we used the short observational framework for inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experiences of people who could not talk to us. One person was able to tell us about living in the service.

We spoke with five members of staff including a company director, a deputy manager and three support staff.

We reviewed a range of records that included two peoples care and health records. Medicine records. Three staff files in relation to recruitment and supervision. Staff training records and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection –

We contacted five relatives and one health care professional to invite their feedback about the service. We also sought clarification from the manager to validate evidence found. This included evidence of application to registration for the manager, staff training data and contact details for relatives.

Updated 1 August 2019

About the service

Birch House is a residential care home providing personal care and accommodation in one adapted building to five people with learning disabilities and or autism aged 18 and over. The service was full at the time of inspection.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

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

Peoples experiences were good, and people continued to receive safe care and support. A skilled and competent staff team provided continuity in care. People received their medicines safely and in accordance with their preferences. Risks people may experience from the environment or because of their support needs were assessed and steps taken to minimise the risk of harm occurring. When people’s circumstances changed risks were reassessed, recorded and updated.

People lived in a safe, clean and well-maintained environment. Accidents and incidents were appropriately reported and acted upon. Analysis of these helped staff learn and improve upon delivery of support.

Staff provided people with support that met their needs and was in line with their care plan preferences. People were supported to maintain a good diet. Staff were informed about people’s health needs and supported them to access health care services when they required.

Staff demonstrated commitment to ensuring that people experienced a good quality of life. They showed kindness and compassion in their interactions with people and spoke about them with warmth and respect. People enjoyed caring relationships with staff and there was laughter and smiles in their engagements with them.

Staff knew people well and understood what and who was important to them. Staff respected people’s dignity and privacy. They sought peoples consent with the support they provided and encouraged people to make decisions for themselves around their day to day care. Staff promoted people’s independence to maximize their potential.

People lived in a well-run service. The manager and staff were committed to providing good quality care and undertook regular quality checks to maintain service delivery. The provider was actively involved in monitoring service quality. They had strengthened their oversight of the service through weekly and monthly checks, prompt action was taken to address areas for improvement. There were opportunities for people staff, relatives and professionals to give feedback about service quality to help improve service delivery.

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. The service met the characteristics of good in all areas. More information is in the detailed findings below.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was GOOD (published 28 December 2016)

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.