The Care Quality Commission
  • Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Birch Heath Lodge Nursing Home

Birch Heath Lane, Christleton, Chester, Cheshire, CH3 7AP (01244) 335503

Provided and run by:
Birch Heath Lodge Limited

Important: The provider of this service changed. See new profile

All Inspections

23 January 2014

During a routine inspection

During our inspection we looked at care, staff training records, staff supervision arrangements and the homes duty rota. We also looked at the services complaints and quality monitoring procedures. We did this because we wanted to identify that appropriate arrangements were in place to support staff members. We also wanted to ensure people using the service felt listened to.

We observed the quality of care and support provided by staff during the inspection. We spoke with the manager, a number of people living at the home and staff throughout the inspection.

We found care plan records were up to date and people were happy with the service they were receiving. We found people were being supported by staff who had been trained and appropriate support arrangements were in place for them. Good care practices were observed and people told us they were happy with their care. One person said, 'I am very happy and settled. The staff are lovely friendly people. I find them very attentive. They will do anything for you'. Another person said, 'I cannot fault anything. The food is very good and we get plenty of choices. We also have plenty of activities to keep us entertained'.

We found staffing levels were adequate with an appropriate skill mix to meet the needs of people using the service. Good care practices were observed and people were having their nutritional needs met.

20 February 2013

During a routine inspection

We spoke to five people who used the service who said they were well looked after and happy with the service they received. They said that they were treated in a respectful manner by the staff and that they felt safe at the service. Some comments made were:-

'It's a lovely place. The staff are caring, lovely and helpful.'

'I am very pleased. I like it here.'

"The staff look after us very well.'

We spoke to one relative who told us that they were happy with the care and support provided.

We observed that staff were patient, friendly and caring in their interactions with the people who used the service.

Records showed that people had been assessed before they began to use the service and they had a care plan in place detailing the support they needed.

There were practices in place to ensure that the recruitment of staff appropriately supported the people who used the service.

The home was clean and there were procedures and training in place to promote good hygiene and prevent infection.

There were systems in place to obtain the views of the people who used the service and their relatives about how the service operated. The home operated an effective system for the management of complaints.

We asked Cheshire West and Chester Council for information about how the service operated. No information of concern was reported.

6 December 2011

During a routine inspection

During our visit to the home we spoke with seven people who live there. They told us they are looked after well, are treated properly and with respect and are able to do the things they want to do. For example, one person told us they can get up when they want in morning. Another person said, 'Staff are always polite and speak nicely to me' and another, 'I always get a choice of what I would like to drink and am never made to have a drink if I don't feel like one'.

All gave examples of the things they did during the day including watching television, reading, socialising with other people and taking part in activities organised by the activity coordinator. Examples of these included sing-alongs, raffles, film nights, bingo, and going out to Chester zoo and the local cinema.

The people we spoke to all said they are happy living at the home. They said that staff give them the care and support they need. Some said that sometimes staff are very busy so they had to wait to get this care and support at times. Others said that staff always came to help when they ask or press the buzzer.

All liked and enjoyed eating the food provided by the home. One person told us, 'The food is good and always properly presented'.

All the people we spoke to said they feel safe living at the home. We also spoke with one relative who said they had no concerns and they were happy to leave after a visit as they know their relative would be looked after properly and be safe.