Archived: Beech Court Care Centre

Updated 23 June 2015

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 took place on 13 May 2015 and was unannounced.

The inspection was conducted by two inspectors and an expert 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.

Before the inspection we gathered information from safeguarding notifications, previous inspections. We also contacted the local authority to find out information about the service.

We spoke with nine people who used the service and seven relatives. We observed people during breakfast and lunch. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI) for 45 minutes on the Dementia unit. SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We spoke to staff including the registered manager, the cook, three nurses, two care staff and the maintenance man. We observed care interactions in the main lounge, and dining rooms and people’s rooms on each of the three floors. We reviewed seven staff files, seven care plans, eight fluid balance charts, eight food charts and eight stool charts. We also reviewed six Medicine Administration records (MARS) policies, records relating to night checks, analysis of incidents and certificates and risk assessments related to the health and safety of the environment and quality audits.

After the inspection we were contacted by two relatives who wanted to share their experience.

Updated 23 June 2015

The inspection was unannounced and took place on 13 May 2015. There were no breaches of any legal requirements at our last inspection on 15 January 2014.

Beech Court Care Centre provides care for up to 50 people. This includes nursing care to older people some of whom may be living with dementia and to younger physically disabled people. At the time of our visit there were 47 people using the service.

There was a registered manager who showed us around during our visit. 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 found that there were unsafe medicine practices relating to the prescribing of homely remedies. Prevention and management of infection policies related to handling blood specimens was not always followed. Equipment such as garden chairs were not fit for use and were removed before we left the service.

People told us they felt safe and had confidence in most of the staff working at the service. There were procedures in place to ensure that people were safeguarded from abuse. Staff were aware of how to report any allegations of abuse and told us they would not hesitate to follow the whistle blowing procedure if they had concerns about the quality of care delivered.

Staff were aware of how to assess, manage and report risks related to people and the environment. There were procedures in place to deal with emergencies and staff demonstrated an understanding of these procedures.

Safer recruitment practices were followed in order to ensure that appropriate checks were completed prior to staff being employed. Staffing levels were reviewed regularly and changes made accordance to the needs of people using the service.

People told us that staff understood their needs. We found that staff received an effective induction, regular supervisions and annual appraisals.

People were supported by staff who were compassionate and caring. People were treated with dignity and respect and their wishes relating to end of life care were respected.

People were supported to eat sufficient amounts that met their needs. For people identified as at risk of malnutrition appropriate referrals were made to healthcare professionals.

The registered manager and staff had recently attended training, and showed an awareness of how to lawfully deprive people of their liberty where this was in the person’s best interests.

People were able to express their concerns to the manager. We saw that complaints were acknowledged and responded to in timely manner.

Care plans were person centred and indicated people’s preferences. An activities coordinator worked Monday to Friday and ensured that the activities program met people’s needs and preferences.

There was an open and honest culture. Staff relatives and people told us they could approach the manager. There were clear leadership structures in place and staff were aware of their roles and responsibilities. There were systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of care delivered. Feedback from people staff and relatives was sought and acted upon where possible.

We found one breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can see what action we have told the provider to take at the back of this report.