During an assessment under our new approach
This inspection was carried out between 6 July and 17 July 2026. Birchmere Mews is a residential care home for up to 63 people, including older people and people living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 53 people living in the home. At this inspection, we reviewed all 5 key questions. We carried out this inspection due to the aged rating of this service.
Birchmere Mews Care Home in Solihull provides a welcoming, secure, and homely setting where residents can feel relaxed, comfortable, and well cared for. The bedrooms were designed to support residents living with dementia. Rooms had en-suite walk-in wet rooms and comfortable three-quarter-sized beds to promote both independence and wellbeing.
As part of our inspection, we spoke with people who used the service, their relatives, staff, the registered manager and the provider’s care and quality managers. We reviewed care plans, medication records, recruitment files and quality assurance records.
The provider encouraged a strong sense of belonging through its “#OneFamily” motto approach, which fostered positive relationships and a shared commitment to creating positive experiences for people. Staff spoke with pride about their roles and responsibilities and remained focused on improving people's wellbeing and creating moments of happiness in their daily lives.
Staffing levels enabled staff to provide safe care which was responsive to people’s individual needs. Staff received a structured induction when they started working at the home and regular refresher training to ensure their practice reflected current guidance and standards. Staff understood their responsibility to protect people from potential harm, abuse or poor practice and monitored people to identify any deterioration in their health. Effective communication ensured any changes in people’s needs were communicated between teams and shared with other healthcare professionals when people transitioned between services.
Pre-admission assessments involved people and their relatives and explored people’s personal identities, cultural requirements, religious needs and communication preferences. Where people had risks associated with their health or medical conditions, these were identified and planned for. People benefited from twice-weekly ward rounds with the local GP practice, which supported ongoing monitoring of their health and wellbeing. Robust medicines management systems ensured people received their medicines safely and in accordance with their prescriptions.
The provider and registered manager were committed to ensuring everyone in the home had the same access to opportunities and experiences. Assessments and care plans considered any factors that could increase the risk of people being disadvantaged. Staff promoted person-centred care by respecting people’s preferences and routines and encouraged their independence.
The provider had a framework of checks and audits to ensure standards were maintained, regulations were met which supported accountability across the service. There were policies to promote equality and inclusion, and staff felt confident to share their feedback about the service. The provider had established strong and meaningful partnerships with other organisations and health professionals to benefit people living in the home as well as the wider community.