Archived: The Beaches

The focus of the inspection was to answer five key questions; is the service safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led? Below is a summary of what we found. If you want to see the evidence that supports our summary please read the full report.

Is the service safe?

We found that the service were safe. People said or indicated that they felt safe. People told us that they could tell staff if there was a problem and that they were confident help would be provided.

People were supported in an environment that was safe, clean and hygienic. Equipment at the home had been well maintained and serviced regularly. There were enough staff on duty to meet the needs of the people living at the home and staff said management provided supervision, and was in direct contact with the home and team most days. The staff said provider was easy to speak with and that it was possible to raise concerns. There were evacuation plans and systems in place in the event of a fire, and the service specific risk assessment had been reviewed by a professional consultant in June 2014.

Is the service effective?

People were involved in their assessment and care planning. Relatives or care managers were involved in helping people have a say where needed.

Environmental checks for the safety of the premises were taking place monthly and there was a system for staff to report any concerns. The provider made sure any maintenance issues were resolved without delay. People were able to choose what meals to have and the providers kept records to monitor that people had sufficient nutrition.

Is the service caring?

People told us that they felt well cared for, one person said 'I like this place, it's more caring'. People were observed to be treated respectfully.

All four people appeared relaxed and happy in the company of staff. We observed that where people had communication difficulties, they were confident to lead staff to give them the support they needed.

Is the service responsive?

People's needs had been assessed before they moved into the home. People's likes and dislikes were noted, and as they changed, the records were updated. The providers observed and recorded people's changing behaviour and sought specialist help to adjust the type of support provided. We saw staff responded promptly to people's requests.

Is the service well led?

The staff members we spoke with said that the provider was focused on helping staff provide good quality support to the people living at the service at all times. The people living at the home said the manager helped sort out important events, such as holidays and reviews. Surveys had been sent out to people's relatives and care managers but none had been returned. The service had not received any complaints.

People were treated with dignity and respect. We observed people being supported to make decisions about their day and saw records that showed that people were encouraged to make decisions about their daily lives, activities they took part in and the things important to them. People's choices were respected, one person chose to eat their lunch at a different time and separate from the other people at the service and this was supported by staff.

A person told us they had been supported to personalise their room with their favourite collections of thimbles, bells and wind chimes. We were showed the person's room by the person themselves and the decoration reflected this.

Staff understood people's needs and preferences. People's personal abilities and health needs were assessed regularly. Staff supported people to access health care professionals when they were needed.

The service had financial procedures in place to ensure people's money was protected.

Staff were trained and provided with opportunities to gain further relevant qualifications in care.

The service had systems to check on the quality of the service people received and to keep them safe.

People told us about the community activities they were involved in and how they could make their own decisions about what to do and when. One person said, 'staff will quite happily and gladly take us out'. People said they were happy living at The Beaches and didn't have any complaints. A sample of people's comments about their lives at the home included, 'Oh god, you won't find nowhere else better than this place' and 'it's small and we have fun'. People knew about their care plans, or had been involved in discussions with staff about their care and support. People said they liked the meals and were able to choose what they had to eat. People told us they like their rooms, the home was well maintained and always clean and tidy. People told us they thought there were sufficient staff on duty.