Silver Birches

Updated 16 January 2020

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.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by one inspector and an assistant inspector.

Service and service 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. 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.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced on both dates.

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. 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 of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with five people living at the home. We spoke with four members of staff including the cook, a domestic, two care workers, the deputy and registered manager. We also spoke with two visiting health professionals and a relative.

We reviewed a range of records. These included three people's care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff files as well as records relating to the management of the home, such as quality assurance checks completed by the provider.

After the inspection we spoke with one health professional.

Updated 16 January 2020

About the service

Silver Birches is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 31 older people aged 65 and over. At the time of this inspection 18 people were living at this service.

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

People told us they felt safe in their home environment and that staff supported them well. Risks had been identified, assessed and measures put in place, so staff knew how to reduce them. Staffing levels were regularly reviewed to ensure people's needs could be met. Recruitment procedures were safe and robust. We identified some issues in relation to the management of ‘as and when required’ medicines to manage pain relief. We have made a recommendation about this.

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. Staff received regular training, supervision and appraisals. Staff supported people to access health professionals’ advice and support. Staff respected people's privacy and dignity and encouraged them to be as independent as they could be.

People told us staff showed them kindness and were patient with them. People were involved in making suggestions for future activities and were happy with the level of social engagement available to them. Complaints were managed in line with the provider’s policies and procedures. People’s end of life wishes were considered and recorded in their care plans.

Quality assurance systems identified where improvements were needed. Action plans were in place to monitor these until completed. Links with the local community had been well established. The management team were transparent and open in their approach. Staff felt supported by the registered manager and felt involved in decisions about the running of the home.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (published 16 May 2017).

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.