Birch Abbey

Birch Abbey is a care home which provides both residential and nursing care and is registered to support up to 60 older people. At the time of our inspection the service was providing care and support to 54 people.

The service is purpose built and accommodation is over three floors. In addition to providing longer term care for people living with dementia, the home also offered respite beds, where people discharged from hospital received rehabilitation before returning to their own homes.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

The service had undergone changes in management since its change in legal entity. This meant the approach to leadership had not always been consistent, leading to low morale amongst staff. However, the new manager told us they were committed to the service long term and keen to foster a culture which gave both people and staff a voice.

The provider’s staff dependency tool indicated there were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs, however people and staff did not always feel people's needs were met in a timely way. We have made a recommendation about the deployment and allocation of staff.

Documentation around people’s care and support was not always fully completed accurately. We have made a recommendation about this.

People living at Birch Abbey benefitted from a service that was safe. Risks to people were identified, managed and mitigated to help keep people safe from the risk of harm.

Staff followed best practice guidance in relation to infection prevention and control to help minimise the risk of COVID-19 and other infections.

Environmental checks were completed to ensure people lived in a home which was clean and well maintained.

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.

People were looked after by kind and caring staff, who were motivated to provide high quality care and support. People were treated respectfully and in a dignified way.

The service worked alongside a range of healthcare professionals and external services, to ensure people had access to care and support appropriate to their needs.

Governance systems identified concerns, were consistently completed and helped drive further improvements in the service. The manager was aware of their regulatory responsibilities and obligations.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 19 July 2021 and this is the first inspection under the new legal entity.

The last rating for the service under the previous legal entity was good, published on 5 February 2021.

Why we inspected

This is the first inspection under the provider's new legal entity and was carried out to provide the service with a rating.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.

We found the following examples of good practice.

The home facilitated face to face visits, in line with government guidance. Revised guidance on visiting had recently been introduced at the time of our inspection and the provider had updated policies to implement the changes.

During our inspection, we observed visits being conducted between people and their relatives. It was clear to see these visits were essential in maintaining important relationships and had a positive impact on people's well-being. Alternatives to in-person visitation, such as virtual visits, were also supported, as and when necessary.

A ‘booking in’ procedure was in place for visitors to the home including a health questionnaire and evidence of a negative lateral flow test. This helped prevent visitors spreading infection on entering the premises.

People and staff were tested regularly for COVID-19. Staff employed at the home had been vaccinated, to help keep people safe from the risk of infection. Some staff had received their COVID-19 booster vaccinations.

Both people and staff had risk assessments in place to help mitigate the risk of contracting COVID-19.

Infection control policies and procedures helped to ensure that the home adopted best practice which complied with current guidance. The environment appeared clean and hygienic. Cleaning schedules and audits were in place to help maintain cleanliness and minimise the spread of infection. The home employed adequate numbers of domestic and laundry staff.

Staff were trained and competent in infection prevention and control best practices and how to put on and take off PPE. The manager conducted spot checks to ensure staff were following best practices. Staff had a designated area of the home where they could change into their uniforms and put on PPE before each shift.

The manager maintained links with external health professionals to enable people to receive the care and intervention they needed. Virtual and physical consultations took place as and when necessary.