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CQC report explained · a residential care home

What the CQC found at Beacon House

Goodpublished 19 March 2025, 18 months ago

Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.

The latest report, explained

What inspectors found, December 2017

Rated Outstanding; inspectors found exceptionally caring and responsive support, with safe, effective and well-led care rated Good.

This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 13 September 2017. The inspector observed care, looked around the home, spoke with people living there, relatives, staff and a healthcare professional, and reviewed care, staff and quality records.

The home supported five people with learning disabilities, including people with complex behavioural needs. Inspectors found that people were safe, received effective care, and were supported by enough suitably checked and trained staff.

Care was rated Outstanding because staff knew people very well, respected their choices and helped them become more independent. Support was also rated Outstanding because activities, care plans and goals were tailored to each person.

The overall rating was Outstanding. Safe, effective and well-led were rated Good, which remained the same as at the previous inspection.

What inspectors praised
  • Kind and individual care

    Staff understood people's preferences and relationships well. They encouraged people to make choices and take responsibility for their own lives.

    “People were cared for by staff that knew people's individual preferences very well and valued their relationships.” from the report
  • Support with communication

    Staff worked with people and professionals to help people express their views in ways that suited them.

    “Staff were exceptional at helping people to express their views, so they could understand things from their point of view.” from the report
  • Meaningful activities

    Each person had activities based on their own interests. Staff supported trips, hobbies, community activities and the development of new skills.

    “Activities were individualised and each person had their own activity timetable in place which was based on their own likes and preferences.” from the report
  • Safe, enabling support

    Risks were assessed in a way that helped people stay safe while continuing activities and developing independence.

    “People had a wide range of risk assessments in place relating to their day to day living skills, hobbies and activities.” from the report
What inspectors were concerned about
  • Group meetings were not always effective

    minor

    The manager said group resident meetings did not always work well, so one-to-one meetings were used instead. Ask how the home makes sure every person can share their views.

    “Although group resident meetings were held the unit manager told us these were not always effective” from the report
Questions to ask them, based on this report
  1. 01How would you support my relative if they need nursing care, as the home does not provide nursing care?
  2. 02How would you help my relative communicate their wishes and make day-to-day decisions?
  3. 03How would you assess and manage risks while still supporting my relative to take part in activities and develop independence?
  4. 04What activities and community opportunities would be available for my relative, based on their interests?
  5. 05How would you make sure my relative's views are heard if group meetings are not suitable for them?

This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions and the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 December 2017 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.

The story over the years

Every inspection of Beacon House

2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.

  1. December 2017Outstandingcurrent ratingup from Good
    Safe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good

    Read what inspectors found at Beacon House →

  2. November 2015Good
    Safe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good

    We are reading this report · the original is on cqc.org.uk

  3. May 2014

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  4. June 2013

    Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 24 June 2013.

Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.

Next steps

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Most charge £960 to £1,200 a week. 44 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.

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