13 December 2016
During a routine inspection
Birch Trees Nursing Home provides accommodation and nursing care for up to 22 older people. At the time of our visit, there were 20 people in residence. The home is situated in a rural location, close to the town of Midhurst. Accommodation is provided over two floors and is accessible by a lift and stair lift. Communal areas include a dining room and lounge on the ground floor. There is a large garden accessible to people at the back of the home.
The service has a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission 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.
People and relatives spoke positively about the service. They said that it was welcoming and that people received a high standard of care. There was a regular team of staff who knew people well. Staff were supported by the registered manager and representative of the provider who were regularly in the home. Feedback was welcomed and the registered manager was proactive at trying new ideas and making improvements to the care that people received.
People felt safe at the service and there were enough staff to respond to their needs. Staff understood local safeguarding procedures. They were able to speak about the action they would take if they were concerned that someone was at risk of abuse. Risks to people’s safety were assessed and reviewed. People received their medicines safely.
People had developed good relationships with staff and had confidence in their skills and abilities. They told us that staff were kind and that they treated them respectfully. Staff had received training and were supported by the management. Staff were able to pursue additional training which helped them to improve the care they provided to people.
People were involved in planning their care and in making suggestions on how the service was run. Staff understood how people’s capacity should be considered and had taken steps to ensure that people’s rights were protected in line with the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).
People enjoyed the meals at the service and were offered choice and flexibility in the menu.
Staff responded quickly to changes in people’s needs and adapted care and support to suit them. Were appropriate, referrals were made to healthcare professionals, such as the GP or Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN), and advice followed.
A variety of activities were provided, both in the form of group and individual interests.
There was strong leadership within the home. The registered manager and representative of the provider monitored the delivery of care and regularly assisted staff in supporting people. They had a system to monitor and review the quality of the service and were prompt in taking action if improvements were identified.