Archived: Beech Lodge DEAF-initely Independent

Updated 9 February 2019

The inspection: We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team: The inspection was carried out by two inspectors.

Service and service type: Beech Lodge DEAF-initely Independent is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service was managed by the 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.

The home had been registered with CQC before Registering the Right Support guidance and Building the Right Support had been developed. However, we found the care provided included choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People living with learning disabilities at Beech Lodge DEAF-initely Limited were supported to live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

Notice of inspection: The inspection was unannounced.

What we did: Before the inspection visit, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). We used information the provider sent us in the PIR. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also reviewed information that we held about the service such as notifications, which are events which happened in the service that the provider is required to tell us about.

We spoke with the Commissioners who are people who contract services, and monitor the care and support the service provides, when services are paid for by the local authority. Following concerns raised about the service, the commissioners had asked the provider to complete an action plan for planned improvements in the home. The commissioners shared that improvements had been evidenced against the action plan.

During the inspection visit we spoke with three people who used the service. Other people were unable to tell us, in detail, about their experiences of their care, so we spent time observing how their care and support was delivered. We also spoke with the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, the registered manager, two senior support workers, four support workers, the maintenance person, the administrator and a housekeeper.

We looked at the care records of three people who used the service to see whether they reflected the care that was required to meet their needs. We also reviewed records relating to the management and quality assurance of the service.

Updated 9 February 2019

What life is like for people using this service:

•There were enough staff to meet people’s assessed needs and support their planned activities.

•Risks which affected people’s daily lives, both in the home and out in the community, were documented and known by staff.

•Staff had completed safeguarding training and knew what to do if they were concerned about people’s well-being.

•Staff provided support for people to take the medicines they needed to remain well.

•People's needs were assessed and staff received training which enabled them to provide care and support in line with best practice.

•People were supported to choose what they wanted to eat and to maintain good health. Staff were aware that people’s needs could change, and understood when to involve other health care professionals and services when this was required.

•People were supported by staff to make decisions about their care. Staff used their knowledge of people’s preferred ways of communicating, to assist people to make their own choices.

•Staff treated people with empathy and kindness. Staff took a genuine interest in people, knew them well and had a good understanding of their social and cultural diversity.

• Staff treated people with dignity and respect and overall, promoted their independence.

•Care plans contained sufficient detail, and work was being completed to ensure they were even more personalised and expressed what was important to people.

•People benefitted from engagement in meaningful occupation that supported their interests and hobbies.

• Since our last inspection in November 2017, the registered manager and staff had worked together to improve outcomes for people.

•However, some improvements were still required to ensure the quality of record keeping was consistently maintained and messages were communicated effectively.

•The provider was exploring relationships with another charitable organisation to ensure the future sustainability of the service.

•People, relatives and staff were being supported to make their views known about the future direction of the service.

•We found the service met the characteristics of a “Good” rating in four areas and “Requires Improvement” in one area; More information is available in the full report

Rating at last inspection: Requires Improvement. The last report for Beech Lodge DEAF-initely Independent was published on 9 January 2018.

About the service: Beech Lodge DEAF-initely Independent is a residential care home. The service is delivered from two adjacent houses, Beech Lodge and Chestnut Lodge. It provides accommodation and personal care for up to 19 deaf younger adults, who may have learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder, a physical disability or a sensory impairment. Fifteen people were living at the home on the day of our inspection.

Deaf-initely Independent is a charitable organisation who is the service provider. It is overseen by a board of trustees who meet monthly.

Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection. The service has improved its rating from Requires Improvement to Good overall.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.