Archived: Beaconhurst

Updated 18 July 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check 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.

The inspection was prompted in part by an anonymous concern regarding the care and support provided to people. Following this, additional concerns were raised regarding the environment in which people lived. As part of the inspection, we looked at these concerns.

The inspection took place on 1 June 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection was carried out by two inspectors.

The provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

We reviewed information we held about the service, this included information received from the provider about deaths, accidents/incidents and safeguarding alerts which they are required to send us by law. We also contacted the local authority who commission services to gather their feedback.

We met with two of the three people living at the home. We observed the delivery of care to people at short periods throughout the day in order to lessen people’s anxieties.

We spoke with the registered manager, the area manager, deputy manager and three members of care staff. Following the inspection we spoke with a relative on the telephone to gather their views of the service.

We reviewed a range of documents and records including the care records of two people using the service, three medication administration records, two staff files, training records, accidents and incidents, complaints systems, minutes of meetings, activity records, surveys and audits.

Updated 18 July 2018

The inspection took place on 1 June 2018 and was unannounced. At our last inspection in March 2016, the service was rated as ‘Good’ in all questions asked.

Beaconhurst is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. Beaconhurst accommodates three people in one adapted building.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.” Although it was acknowledged that the service provided had links to the community, the service required a level of repair and refurbishment in order to provide a more homely environment

There was a 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.

Systems were in place to audit, assess and monitor the quality of the service provided. However, repair and improvement work identified was outstanding and had not been completed in a timely manner. Works had been delayed and put on hold whilst the provider looked at other, more suitable premises. The service did not employ dedicated housekeeping staff to maintain the cleanliness of the service. There was an expectation that staff would not only support people, but would also ensure the service was kept clean.

People were supported by staff who were aware of the risks to them on a daily basis. Staff had received training in how to safeguard people from abuse and were aware of their responsibilities to report and act on any concerns.

People were supported to take their medicines as prescribed by their doctor. Where accidents and incidents took place, action was taken and individual analysis took place, but overall analysis of this information did not routinely take place.

People were supported by a group of staff who had been provided with training to meet their needs. People’s healthcare needs were met by having access to a variety of healthcare professionals. People were supported to choose their meals they wanted.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Staff presented as kind and caring and were respectful of people’s choices. People benefitted from positive interactions with staff.

People were supported by staff who knew them well and what was important to them. People were supported to take part in activities they enjoyed.