We carried out a review of the data available to us about Beechdale on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Beechdale, you can give feedback on this service.
This inspection visit took place on 27 September 2018 and was announced.
At our last inspection in November 2015 the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good. There was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection
People who lived at Beechdale and relatives told us they were safe, cared for and looked after well. A relative said, “We completely feel my [relative] is safe and well at Beechdale.”
We observed many examples of staff being compassionate, kind and respectful to people they supported. This was confirmed by our observations and relatives we spoke with. A relative said, “The manager and staff are so caring everything revolves around the residents.”
Procedures were in place to record safeguarding concerns, accidents and incidents and take necessary action as required. Staff had received safeguarding training and understood their responsibilities to report unsafe care or abusive practices.
People who lived at Beechdale received their medicines as required. Care records we looked at contained a medicines care plan and risk assessment to inform staff about medication details for each individual. Training was provided for staff to ensure they had the competency to administer medicines. This was confirmed by staff we spoke with.
The registered manager ensured there was sufficient staffing levels in place to provide support people required. People had one to one support to enable them to pursue activities of their choice.
The design of the building plus facilities provided were appropriate for people cared for at Beechdale. A relative said, “It works for the people cared for here, a lovely place.”
The service had safe infection control procedures in place and staff had received infection control training.
Meal times were relaxed and organised around people’s individual daily routines. People were able to choose what they wanted to eat and staff prepared meals.
People were supported to have access to healthcare professionals and their healthcare needs had been met.
Risk assessments had been developed to minimise the potential risk of harm to people during the delivery of their care and when people were out in the community. These had been kept under review and were relevant to the care provided.
Staff had been recruited safely, appropriately trained and supported. They had skills, knowledge and experience required to support people to follow their interests and provide care they needed.
People had been supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
The service had information about support from an external advocate should this be required by people they supported.
The service had a complaints procedure which was made available to people and their family when they commenced using the service. People we spoke with told us they were happy with the service and had no complaints.
The management team used a variety of methods to assess and monitor the quality of the service. These included, staff and ‘service user’ meetings in picture format. In addition, surveys were collected to seek relative/people’s views about Beechdale.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.
Beechdale is a care home registered to provide care and accommodation for up to seven younger adults who have a learning disability. All facilities at the home are provided on the ground floor and the home has good general accessibility for people who use wheelchairs. The last inspection of the service took place on 15 July 2013. During that inspection the service was found to be compliant with all the areas assessed.
This inspection took place on 25 November 2015. The registered manager was given 24 hours notice of the inspection as this is a small service for younger adults, we needed to ensure people would be available to provide us with the information we required.
At the time of the inspection there were five people who used the service.
We were assisted throughout the inspection by the long term registered manager of the home. 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 who used the service and their relatives expressed satisfaction with all aspects of their care. People told us they had confidence in the staff team to provide safe, effective care. People spoke highly of the registered manager and care staff describing them in ways such as ‘kind’, ‘caring’, and ‘compassionate.’
Risks to people’s health, safety or wellbeing were carefully assessed and managed well. Staff had a good understanding of the support people required and how to provide care in a safe manner.
Care workers were able to recognise changes in people’s needs and took prompt action to ensure people were supported to access health care services when then they needed them. There were effective arrangements in place for the safe handling of people’s medicines.
People were provided with care that was planned in accordance with their individual needs, wishes and preferences. The registered manager ensured that any changes in people’s needs were taken into account when reviewing their care.
People were encouraged to be involved in their own care planning and developments in the service. People felt able to express their views and were confident these would be taken into account. The registered manager was aware of the measures to be taken to protect the rights of a person who did not have capacity to consent to any aspect of their care.
Staff were carefully recruited to help ensure they had the appropriate skills, knowledge and character to support people who used the service. Staff were provided with a good level of training and support, which helped them to maintain and develop their knowledge and skills.
Staffing levels were assessed in accordance with people’s needs and kept under constant review. There were adequate numbers of staff on duty at all times, to ensure people were provided with the care and lifestyle support they required.
People reported a positive and open culture within which they could raise concerns. People felt any concerns they did raise would be taken seriously and dealt with appropriately.
There was a well established management structure in place and a number of processes to enable the registered manager and provider to monitor safety and quality across the service.
There was only one permanent resident at the time of our inspection and another due to be admitted to the home. A small number of service users were still having short term stays until alternative arrangements could be made for them.
The manager spoke of the importance of ensuring that all the residents at the home were involved in decisions about short term admissions and was able to describe how she ensured this was the case. She commented that as the home was now some people's permanent residence, she wanted to ensure that any short term care provided would not disrupt their daily routines.
We spoke with the permanent resident and one other service user who was having a short term break. We asked her if she liked staying at Beechdale. She said. 'Of course I do. I do marvellous things here.' She went on to tell us, ' They give us lovely things to eat and I love going shopping.'
We noted that there were activities going on throughout the day including a trip out to the local bowling alley. It was also pleasing to see that the service users were invited to join in a staff meeting. They clearly enjoyed this and appeared relaxed and comfortable with the staff team.
The service user was planning menus with the staff member and preparing to go for a grocery shopping trip. We asked the service user if she liked staying at Beechdale. She said 'Yes I do, I go to nice places like picnics and the pub.' The service user went on to tell us how staff at Beechdale were helping her to eat a healthy diet.
We made contact with some parents of people who use the service. People that we spoke with expressed a great deal of satisfaction with the way their sons or daughters were cared for and the service provided at Beechdale. 'You get the strong sense that the staff there really know what they are doing,' said one parent. Another told us 'I really like the home, I think they do a marvellous job and it's good to be able to have confidence in them.'
Whilst people expressed general satisfaction with the service provided some parents commented that they would like a little more information from the home following their son or daughter's stay. One parent suggested a diary sheet be completed throughout a person's stay and then sent home with them. Another told us 'I would like to know what they have eaten and how they have slept, things like that.'