Archived: Beechwood House

Updated 3 September 2016

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.

This inspection took place on 14 June 2016 and was unannounced.

The inspection team consisted of an inspector and a specialist professional advisor in learning disabilities and autism.

Before the inspection, we asked the provider to complete 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. The provider returned this form and we used it when planning our inspection. We also contacted commissioners for feedback before the inspection and viewed notifications sent to us by the provider. Notifications are events or incidents that the provider must tell us about under the terms of their registration.

We spoke to three people who used the service, two relatives and four staff including the registered manager. We also met with the registered manager and the provider to discuss the leadership and management of the service. We observed interaction between staff and people using the service. We also viewed three staff training and recruitment records, three people’s care records and the provider’s quality auditing system.

Updated 3 September 2016

Beechwood House provides accommodation for up to 10 people with a learning disability who require personal care. There were 9 people using the service at the time of our inspection.

This inspection took place on 14 June 2016. The inspection was unannounced.

There was a registered manager at the service. 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.

People’s records were not always up to date and did not always indicate what action had been taken when people required positive behaviour support. There was also inconsistent practice in the use of alarms intended to keep one person safe.

The service was following the guidance in people’s risk assessments and care plans and the risk of unsafe care was reduced. Care provided was in line with people’s assessed needs. People were safeguarded from abuse because the provider had relevant guidance in place and staff were knowledgeable about the reporting procedure.

There were sufficient, well trained staff to keep people safe. Recruitment procedures ensured suitable staff were employed to work with people at the service.

Consent to care and support had been sought and staff acted in accordance with people’s wishes. Legal requirements had been followed consistently where people were potentially restricted.

People told us they enjoyed their food and we saw meals were nutritious. People’s health needs were met. Referrals to external health professionals were made in a timely manner.

People told us the care staff were caring and kind and that their privacy and dignity was maintained when personal care was provided. They were involved in the planning of their care and support. People were able to take part in hobbies and interests of their choice.

Complaints were well managed. Systems to monitor the quality of the service identified issues for improvement. These were resolved in a timely manner and the provider had obtained feedback about the quality of the service from people, their relatives and staff.