CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Beech Lawn Nursing and Residential Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that people were protected from avoidable harm, with suitable risk assessments, safe medicines arrangements and safeguarding systems. They raised a recommendation because masks were not being used correctly at the start of the Covid-19 outbreak.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed and reviewed, and staff worked with health professionals. Inspectors found suitable support with food, drinks, healthcare, training and decisions about people's care.
- Caring?
- Good
- The report does not give a separate rating for this question. Inspectors did observe that staff were kind, respectful and mindful of people's dignity.
- Responsive?
- Good
- The report does not give a separate rating or detailed findings for this question.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found clear leadership, effective quality checks and a positive culture. The manager had acted on the infection-control problems and reflected on how future outbreaks could be managed.
What inspectors found, January 2023
Beech Lawn Nursing and Residential Home was rated Good; inspectors found kind, effective care, but infection-control mask use was not always right during a Covid-19 outbreak.
This was an unannounced inspection prompted by concerns about staffing and infection control. The inspection began on 13 December 2022 but stopped because the home had a Covid-19 outbreak. Inspectors returned on 4 January 2023 to complete their checks.
The inspector spoke with managers, staff, people living in the home and health professionals. They reviewed care records, medicines records, staff training records, audits and other documents. They found enough staff to meet people's needs when they returned, and found that care was kind and respectful.
The home was rated Good overall, with Good ratings for Safe, Effective and Well-led. The report does not give separate ratings for Caring or Responsive. The previous overall rating was also Good, published on 19 July 2019.
Kind and respectful staff
People said staff were patient and helpful. Inspectors found that staff treated people with kindness, respect and dignity.
“Staff were caring and treated people with kindness, respect and were mindful of people's dignity.” from the report
Detailed risk planning
Risk assessments were current and covered areas such as falls, skin care, nutrition and personal care. Staff knew people's risks and how to support them safely.
“Risk assessments were detailed and up to date which meant staff had guidance on how to manage people's care safely.” from the report
Good healthcare support
Staff recognised changes in people's health, made referrals and followed advice from healthcare professionals. Care records were updated when advice was given.
“Staff were proactive in making timely referrals to health professionals when they had concerns around people's health and well-being.” from the report
Supportive staff training
Staff said they received the training and support needed for their roles. New staff were completing induction and competency checks were being carried out.
“Staff were supported by a system of supervision and training.” from the report
Clear management oversight
Inspectors found effective audits, action plans and clear lines of responsibility. The management team used learning from the outbreak to improve practice.
“The provider and registered manager had effective quality monitoring systems in place.” from the report
Infection control during the outbreak
needs fixingAt the first visit, some staff were not wearing the protective masks required at that time. The manager acted immediately, but inspectors recommended that current infection-control guidance should always be followed.
“We were not assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Staffing pressure during Covid-19
needs fixingThe outbreak caused a sudden drop in staffing, and one staff member worked while testing positive because they had no symptoms. Extra staff were arranged, and inspectors found staffing had improved by the second visit.
“There had been some staffing issues due to the impact of the recent Covid-19 outbreak.” from the report
- 01How do you make sure all staff wear the correct protective equipment during a Covid-19 or other infection outbreak?
- 02What is your contingency plan for maintaining staffing levels during staff illness or an outbreak?
- 03How do you check that new and agency staff have completed induction and have the skills needed to care for my relative?
- 04How do you make sure advice from GPs and other health professionals is communicated to all staff and followed?
- 05How will my family be involved in care plan reviews and give feedback about the care?
This was a focused inspection prompted by concerns about Safe and infection control, and it also assessed Effective and Well-led; Caring and Responsive were not separately rated in this report. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 January 2023 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.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Beech Lawn Nursing and Residential Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and enough staff during a COVID-19 outbreak.
This was a targeted inspection on 1 February 2022. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control, and asked about staffing pressures linked to COVID-19. The visit was announced with one day's notice.
Inspectors found that the home had taken steps to contain the outbreak. These included regular testing, vaccination, extra cleaning, safer staff deployment and suitable protective equipment. They were assured that infection control guidance was being followed.
Staffing was described as appropriate, and the provider said it had not struggled to recruit. Essential caregiver visits and visits for people receiving end of life care were allowed, while other visits were closed in line with national guidance.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the inspection did not give an overall quality rating or a standard rating for the care provided.
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home was following good infection prevention and control guidance and had measures to manage the outbreak.
“We were assured that this service met good infection prevention and control guidelines.” from the report
Staffing
The home was appropriately staffed during the inspection. The provider said it had not experienced difficulty recruiting new staff.
“The service was appropriately staffed. Beech Lawn had not experienced difficulty in recruiting new staff.” from the report
Testing and vaccination
People living in the home and staff were regularly tested, and the report says all had been vaccinated.
“Staff and people were regularly tested for Covid-19. All staff and people had been vaccinated.” from the report
Visitor arrangements
Essential caregiver visits and visits for people receiving end of life care were possible, with checks in place for visitors.
“There was a designated area for receiving all visitors to the service, checking their vaccination status and their Covid-19 self test result.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What visitor arrangements are in place now, including for essential caregivers and people receiving end of life care?
- 02How are current staffing levels checked, and what measures are used if COVID-19 causes staff shortages?
- 03Are people and staff still tested regularly, and what happens when someone tests positive?
- 04How often are high-touch areas cleaned, and how are staff movements between different areas of the home managed?
- 05Is the infection prevention and control policy still up to date?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it did not assess the other four quality questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 February 2022 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.
Every inspection of Beech Lawn Nursing and Residential Home
6 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- January 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Beech Lawn Nursing and Residential Home →
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Beech Lawn Nursing and Residential Home →
- July 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2016Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- November 2015Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- September 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 13 December 2010.
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.
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