Background to this inspection
Updated
26 February 2020
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was undertaken by one inspector and a specialist nurse advisor in the care of older people.
Service and service type
The Birches is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with seven people who used the service and six relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with eight members of staff including the provider, registered manager, deputy manager/registered nurse, activities coordinator and care staff. We also spoke with a visiting professional.
We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.
Updated
26 February 2020
About the service
The Birches Nursing Home is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to 23 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 24 people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People told us they felt safe. However, some environmental risks were not managed effectively. Improvements were needed for the safe management of water.
People felt safe living at The Birches Nursing Home and they were very much at the heart of the service. We received positive feedback from people and their relatives about the care provided.
Relevant recruitment checks were conducted before staff started working at the service to make sure they were of good character and had the necessary skills.
Staff had received training in safeguarding adults and knew how to identify, prevent and report abuse. There were enough staff to keep people safe.
Staff working at the service understood people’s needs and supported people in a personalised way. Care was provided respectfully and sensitively, considering people’s different needs.
Staff received support and one to one sessions or supervision to discuss areas of development. They completed training and felt it supported them in their job role.
People were supported with their nutritional needs when required. People received varied meals including a choice of fresh food and drinks. Staff were aware of people’s likes and dislikes
Staff had developed positive and caring relationships with people and their families. Staff were highly motivated and demonstrated a commitment to providing the best quality care to people in a compassionate way. People’s privacy and dignity was always maintained.
There were appropriate management arrangements in place and relatives were very positive about the management in the home.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
We have made a recommendation about the management of legionnaire and water management.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 28 July 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.