This inspection took place on 1 February 2018 and was unannounced.

The Beeches 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 service could accommodate up to 32 people. At the time of the inspection 27 people were using the service.

The Beeches is a purpose built establishment, situated to the rear of Yew Trees Residential Home. Both homes are owned and managed by Meridian Healthcare Limited, part of HC-One Limited. Accommodation is provided on two floors with stairs and a passenger lift between the floors.

We inspected the service in January 2015 and rated the service as 'Good'. At this inspection we found the service remained 'Good'.

The service had a registered manager. 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.

Relatives felt the service was safe. Policies and procedures were in place to keep people safe such as safeguarding, accident and incident policies. Staff had received training in safeguarding and knew how to report concerns.

We found that medicines were safely managed and only appropriately trained staff had the responsibility for administering medicines to people.

Staff recruitment procedures were robust and included Disclosure and Barring Service checks and references. Staffing levels were appropriate to the needs of the people using the service.

Risk assessments were detailed, person-centred, and gave staff clear guidance about how to help keep people safe. People had personal emergency evacuation plans in place in case of an emergency.

Records were available to demonstrate that where appropriate mental capacity assessments and deprivation of liberty safeguards authorisations were in place. We saw records that indicated people and / or their representative had given their consent to their care and treatment. However, the provider needed to ensure they evidenced people’s Lasting Power of Attorneys (LPA) to provide assurances people’s relatives / representatives had the correct legal authorisation to be involved in the persons care.

Staff were trained in a range of subjects such as infection control, health and safety and fire safety. Staff had also received training to support them to meet the needs of people who used the service, such as dementia awareness.

Staff received regular supervisions and an annual appraisal which covered their personal development. Staff felt they were well supported by the registered manager and assistant manager.

We found that people's nutritional needs were being met. People's views on the quality of the food were however mixed. We looked around the home and found the environment to be conducive to the needs of the people who lived there. The environment was generally well maintained. However, we found some areas of the home would benefit with redecoration. Rooms were bright and people had been encouraged to bring in personal items from home and many rooms were personalised.

We saw that the interactions of the staff with people were kind and they treated people in a respectful and dignified way and we saw that people were well dressed and cared for.

Staff were carrying out activities whenever they had the opportunity and time to do so and we observed people enjoying participating in a game of bowels and bingo during the inspection.

We looked at the complaints file and the complaints being dealt with at the time of our inspection. We saw that appropriate details of each complaint had been recorded along with details of actions taken to date.

The premises were well suited to people

We spoke with a range of people about the home. They included the senior carer who was acting as manager on the day of inspection, staff, relatives and people who lived at the home.

Everyone who commented spoke positively about the home and the staff members working there. Comments included; “very nice”; “can’t fault the staff”; “it’s a pleasure to get up in the morning” and “it’s the best”. However, both some residents and relatives stated that there were not enough activities for residents to take part in.

The home had a safeguarding procedure in place. This was designed to ensure that any possible problems that arose were dealt with openly and people were protected from possible harm.

Information about the safety and quality of service provided was gathered on a continuous and on-going basis via feedback from the people who used the service and their representatives, including their relatives and friends, where appropriate.

People told us what it was like to live in The Beeches. They told us they were very happy with the care and support they received and comments included, "The staff are very good and do whatever you ask.”

“The staff work hard and look after us well.”

“I need hoisting and two people always do that, they know what they are doing.”

“They (care workers) do talk to me about my care plan each month and I sign.”

We looked at the care records of four people using the service. Each contained appropriate documentation and information regarding the person’s initial admission into the home. Care plans and associated risk assessments were in place and all had been regularly reviewed.

Two people we spoke with told us that they were supported to take their medicines when they should. One person said, “They bring our tablets to the table in little pots, they never miss.” Another person said, “If I need my painkillers then I only have to ask.”

The registered manager of The Beeches had recently moved to manage another home within the organisation. The deputy manager was in charge on the day of our visit and will become the new manager of the service. It was confirmed that an application will be made to register with the Care Quality Commission.

On completion of this compliance review we found that people were well cared for and that the provider was meeting the regulations we looked at.

People living at The Beeches told us that the care and support they were provided with met their needs and that the staff encouraged them to be involved in the care planning process. They also told us that their privacy and dignity was respected. Comments we received from people using the service included:

"The staff respect my privacy and dignity all the time especially when helping me."

"I am happy with the care I receive and I can always tell the staff if I'm not."

"They do talk to me about my care plan each month and I sign."

"The staff work very hard and look after us well."

This inspection was carried out over two days on the 20 and 22 January 2015.

We last inspected The Beeches in December 2013. At that inspection we found that the service was meeting all the regulations of the HSCA.

The Beeches is a purpose built establishment, situated to the rear of Yew Trees Residential Home and provides accommodation for up to 32 older people. Both homes are owned and managed by Meridian Healthcare Limited.

Accommodation is provided on two floors with stairs an a passenger lift between the floors. The home had one vacancy at the time of our inspection and we were informed the vacancy had already been allocated and a new admission was being planned.

There was a registered manager in post at the time of our inspection. 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.

The building was well maintained, clean, tidy and free of any unpleasant odours.

There was a calm and relaxed atmosphere in the home and we saw that staff interacted with people in a friendly and respectful manner.

People who used the service and the visitors we spoke with were positive and complimentary about the attitude, skills and competency of the staff team. Individual care was assessed and planned and was subject to review.

There was appropriate communication between all levels of staff at the home.

We found staff recruitment to be thorough and all relevant pre-employment checks had been completed before a member of staff started to work in the home.

The registered manager led by example and spent time working with staff, supporting them whilst carrying out their care duties.

Information which we received from a visiting health and social care professional who had regular contact with the home was very positive and complimentary about the care and support provided by the whole staff team.

Some people who used the service did not have the ability to make decisions about some parts of their care and support. Staff had an understanding of the systems in place to protect people who could not make decisions and followed the legal requirements outlined in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).