The Birches

Updated 8 October 2022

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

The Birches is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. The Birches is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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. At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

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 (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with one person who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with nine members of staff including the deputy managers, service managers, senior support workers and support workers. We also spoke with the provider’s quality improvement lead. We reviewed a range of records, this included two people's care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were also reviewed.

Updated 8 October 2022

About the service

The Birches is a residential care home providing personal care to up to seven people. The service provides support to adults with mental health needs. At the time of our inspection there were seven people using the service.

The Birches accommodates people in one adapted building across three floors. There are communal living and dining areas and an accessible garden with outdoor seating.

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

People were protected from harm and abuse, staff had received training in this area and understood how to report any concerns. People’s medicines were safely managed, and staff were recruited safely. There were sufficient numbers of staff available to meet the needs of the people using the service. Risks which affected people’s daily lives were assessed and monitored. We were assured that the provider had sufficient infection, prevention and control measures in place.

Staff training was relevant and up to date, there was effective systems in place to support and supervise staff. People were encouraged and supported to cook their own meals and people planned what they would like to eat. Staff sought guidance from external professionals when required.

Staff were respectful and maintained people’s dignity, privacy and independence. People were given the opportunity to be involved in their care planning and how they wished to be supported, care plans contained information on people’s lifestyle choices, preferences and decisions.

People’s needs were regularly reviewed, and support was adjusted as required. People were supported to access their chosen hobbies and interests and relatives told us staff kept them up to date with relevant information about their family members’ care.

There was a positive, person-centred approach to the delivery of people's care. The provider and registered manager had a good oversight through the regular audits they carried out. We found the systems in place to be robust and identified areas for improvement which were then actioned.

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.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 16 May 2019). The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.