The Care Quality Commission

Archived: Affinity Trust - 3 Beech Close

3 Beech Close, Beech Road, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 3SD

Provided and run by:
Affinity Trust

All Inspections

14 August 2013

During a routine inspection

During our inspection of Affinity Trust 3 Beech Close on 14 August 2013, we used a number of different methods to help us understand the experiences of people using the service. This was because the people using the service had complex needs which meant they were not able to talk with us about their experiences. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a specific way of observing care to help us understand the experiences of people who could not talk with us.

We saw people who use the service were engaged in activities they liked and enjoyed. People appeared clean, tidy and well cared for. We found well documented support plans of how the service would meet each person's needs. We saw those needs were met by a competent and knowledgeable staff team who were supported with regular training, supervision and appraisal.

We saw that most areas of the premises were clean. We found that in general, processes designed to prevent and control the risk of infection were well implemented. We also found that arrangements were in place to deal with foreseeable emergencies.

We found the service had a complaints system in place. Information about the procedure was readily available to people who use the service in a format that met their needs.

7 January 2013

During a routine inspection

When we visited the Affinity Trust 3 Beech close on 7 January 2013, we found that people were satisfied with the care and support they received. We observed that people were offered support at a level which encouraged independence and assured their individual needs were met.

The staff were friendly and courteous in their approach to people and interacted confidently with them. We noted that people were encouraged to express their views about the quality of care in the home. They were also involved in planning their care, making decisions about their support and treatment, and how they spent their time.

Due to the varying levels of communication that the two people currently using the service had, it was difficult to discuss their care with them in any depth. However, within the care files we saw that people and or their families had been involved with, and agreed with the particular care needs that had been identified for them.

20 January 2012

During an inspection looking at part of the service

During our visits to 3 Beech Close we have not been able to ask people how they feel about living there as people had limited use of words to communicate. We observed that the people living at the home showed by their body language and other non verbal signs that they like the staff and their needs are met. Staff were patient, attentive and kind and treated people with respect.

We visited this service on 30 September 2011 and found there were a number of areas where the service needed to make improvements for the benefit of the people living there. The provider submitted a detailed action plan to us, which they updated to confirm that all the actions had been met. We visited the service again on 20 January 2012 and found that there had been some improvements in all areas, but we have recommended that further work is carried out to make sure the improvements are sustained.

30 September 2011

During a routine inspection

During our visit on 30 September 2011 we were not able to ask people about how they feel about living at 3 Beech Close as people had limited use of words to communicate. We observed some of the ways people who live here interacted with each other and with the staff. People's expressions and body language demonstrated that they were happy and that they got on well with the staff. We saw that staff treated people with respect, and worked hard to involve them in their care.