Archived: Silver Birches

Updated 24 May 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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the home, and to provide a rating for the home under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team:

This inspection was conducted by one inspector.

Home and home type:

Silver Birches 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.

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

Notice of inspection:

The inspection was unannounced.

What we did:

Inspection site visit activity started on 7 May 2019 when we visited the home to speak with people, see the manager and staff and to review care records and policies and procedures. Our inspection was informed by evidence we already held about the home.

We asked the home to complete a Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the home, what the home does well and improvements they plan to make.

We spent time with nine people living in the home to speak with them and to observe interaction between people and staff. We spoke with the registered manager, the deputy manager and three care staff. We also spoke with four relatives to ask for their views on the home and one external health care provider. We looked at the care records of three people who used the home, records of staff training and development and other records relating to the management of the home.

Updated 24 May 2019

Silver Birches is a care home for up to 14people who have learning disabilities, they may also have a physical disability. The home is managed by Fitzroy Support and located in the Richmond area.

At our last inspection of 10 October 2016 the home was rated “Good”. At this inspection the home continued to meet the characteristics of Good in all areas.

People received safe care and support. The provider had systems in place to manage safeguarding concerns and staff were appropriately trained in this area. People were safe from harm because appropriate risk assessments had been carried out with regard to activities people took part in as well as the safety of the premises.

The provider employed sufficient numbers of staff to work in the home so that people’s needs were met. People were safely supported with their medicines and general health and care staff had received training to enable them to carry out their role effectively. Care staff were supported by their management team to do their job.

People had good relationships with care staff who protected their rights to lead as normal a life as possible. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The home had policies and management systems which supported and ensured good care practice.

Relatives told us they felt people were safe and well cared for in the home. Some people were unable to provide detailed verbal feedback but were able to indicate that they felt comfortable and at ease with staff. Other people spoke positively about the support they received.

We found where people lacked capacity that the appropriate authorisations were in place with regard to lasting power of attorney. People accessed health care homes when needed and records were maintained in relation to each person’s health, appointment visits and medicines. People were supported to take part in activities of interest and their preferences, likes and dislikes were known to staff.

The provider had a complaints procedure which relatives were aware of. The home had an open-door policy which welcomed informal discussions and conversations whenever needed.

This inspection was part of our scheduled plan of visiting homes to check the safety and quality of care people received. We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the home until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner. For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk