This inspection took place on 5 January 2016 and was unannounced. The last Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection of the home was carried out on 19 September 2014, where we found the service was meeting all the regulations we looked at.Beecholme House is a rehabilitation service that can accommodate and provide support for up to fifteen younger males with a past or present experience of mental ill health. The service specialises in helping people to develop the necessary skills to move onto more independent living. The service is divided into a main hostel located at 2-4 Beecholme Avenue where up to 12 people can live and a nearby three bedded ‘step down’ unit. The step down house is not permanently staffed and people who stay there live more independently than the people living at the main house. There were 12 people living in the main house and one person using the step down service when we visited.
The service had a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have a legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
The provider did not always maintain accurate records relating to the overall management of the home. For example, we found no recorded evidence in respect of the quality monitoring visits carried out by the providers, action the manager had taken in response to the finding of these audits and the results of any feedback received from people who had participated in the services annual satisfaction survey. This meant it was difficult to determine whether the service was always taking appropriate action in a timely manner to address areas where improvements have been identified.
This was a breach of the Health and Social Care (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.
People told us they were happy staying at Beecholme House. We saw staff looked after people in a way which was kind and caring. Our discussions with people using the service and visiting community based mental health professionals supported this. People’s rights to privacy and dignity were also respected.
People were safe living at the home. Staff knew what action to take to ensure people were protected if they suspected they were at risk of abuse or harm. Risks to people’s health, safety and wellbeing had been assessed and staff knew how to minimise and manage these risks in order to keep people safe. The service also managed accidents and incidents appropriately and suitable arrangements were in place to deal with emergencies.
People were actively encouraged and supported by staff to maintain and develop their independent living skills in order to help them move on and live more independently in the wider community.
People’s care plans were up to date and contained detailed information about people’s support needs. Staff were aware of the risks to people’s safety and followed management plans to minimise those risks.
Staff were suitably trained and supported. Staff were aware of people’s preferences and routines and this enabled personalised care to be provided. They were aware of what behaviour people displayed to express their emotions and this enabled staff to provide the support people required.
People were supported to maintain social relationships with people who were important to them, such as their relatives and friends. Staff encouraged people to pursue their social and educational interests.
People were supported to keep healthy and well. Staff supported people to access physical and mental health care services and accompanied them to appointments as and when required. Staff also worked closely with community based mental health care professionals to ensure people received all the care and support they needed. There was a choice of meals, snacks and drinks and staff supported people to eat healthily.
People received their medicines as prescribed and staff supported people to manage their medicines safely.
There were enough suitably competent staff to care for and support people. The manager continuously reviewed and planned staffing levels to ensure there were enough staff to meet the needs of everyone staying in the main house and the step down service.
Staff supported people to make choices about day-to-day decisions. The manager was knowledgeable about the Mental Capacity Act (2005) supported people in line with this legislation.
The service had a clear management structure in place. We saw the manager led by example and was able to demonstrate a good understanding of their role and responsibilities. The views and ideas of people using the service, their relatives (where applicable), professional representatives and staff were routinely sought by the manager and used to improve the service they provided.
People felt comfortable raising any issues they might have about the home with staff. The service had arrangements in place to deal with people’s concerns and complaints appropriately.
The manager routinely reviewed the quality of care provided to people. They ensured any areas that required improvement were actioned and there was a focus within the staff team on continuous improvement of the service.