Archived: Signature at Beaconsfield

Updated 5 October 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.

This was the first inspection at the service since it was registered with CQC.

The inspection site visit activity started on 3 September and ended on 6 September 2018. Whilst at the home on the 3 and 4 September 2018 we spoke with 13 people and two relatives. We spoke with 12 staff which included the registered manager, deputy manager, care co-ordinators and support staff. We looked at nine people’s care records, observed medicine administration and looked at six staff recruitment and training records. Following the visits to the home, we reviewed information we took away and received further feedback from staff and relatives. The registered manager and deputy manager sent us further evidence to consider. We have used all the information gathered to form our judgement.

On day one of the inspection, the team consisted of one adult social care inspector and two Experts by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. On day two the same adult social care inspector was joined by another inspector.

We made general observations of the environment and witnessed interactions between people and staff. We cross-referenced practice against the provider’s own policies and procedures.

Prior to the inspection the registered manager completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). We used information in the PIR. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. Throughout the inspection we gave the registered manager opportunities to share other evidence with us. We reviewed notifications and any other information we had received about the service. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

Updated 5 October 2018

This inspection took place on 3, 4 and 6 September 2018. It was an unannounced visit to the service.

This service has a dual registration which means there are two registered providers jointly managing the regulated activities at this single location. They are: Sunrise Senior Living Limited and Sunrise UK Operations. This means the service is subject to one inspection visit however the report is published on our website twice, under each provider.

This was the first inspection since a change to the provider’s registration.

Sunrise of Beaconsfield 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. The home is divided into two ‘communities’, assisted living and reminiscence. Accommodation was located across three floors. There was a mixture of one bedded and studio flats. Rooms had been personalised by people. In the reminiscence unit each person had a memory box outside of their door. This was filled with items which invoked fond memories for people. The home had formal dining areas and a bistro. People were encouraged to use the bistro to make their own drinks and have snacks during the day. Throughout the home we noted drinks were freely available to people. People had a wide variety of seating areas and had access to a secure well-maintained garden.

The service had a registered manager in post. 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.

We received positive feedback from people, their relatives and staff on how the service was led. Comments included “You can phone them, email them. They are responsive, in a timely manner” and “On the whole it’s well managed.”

People told us staff were kind and compassionate and their privacy was respected. Comments included “People are friendly. The care is very good. We’re very happy with the staff” and “My privacy is respected.” People were encouraged to maintain important relationship and were supported to celebrate important life events.

The provider had processes in place to undertake pre-employment checks on staff to ensure they were suitable to work with people. People told us they were not always certain there were enough staff to support them. However, we observed call bells were answered quickly.

Staff were supported to develop their skills and knowledge through training. Staff were encouraged to share learning within the home and across the organisation.

Staff were aware of the need to report any incidents and accidents. The equipment used in the home was routinely maintained to ensure it was safe to use.

People were supported by staff that had developed a good working relationship with them. Staff were aware of people’s likes and dislikes.

People had access to a range of activities, both within the home and in the local community.

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.