CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Beeches Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, October 2022
Beeches Care Home is rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found kind and responsive care, but medicines, food arrangements and management oversight still need improvement.
This was an unannounced follow-up inspection. Inspectors visited on 6 and 7 September 2022, with inspection activity continuing until 21 September. They spoke with people, relatives and staff, and checked care records, medicine records and other documents.
The home had improved since the previous inspection. Staffing levels, care plans, the environment and staff interaction had improved. People were treated kindly and with respect, and activities were taking place.
Important problems remained. Some medicine records did not match stock, guidance for some medicines was incomplete, and creams were given without being recorded. Some areas were dirty, food storage was not well monitored, and menus did not always reflect people's preferences.
The overall rating stayed Requires Improvement. Safe, Effective and Well-led were rated Requires Improvement. Caring and Responsive were rated Good. The home was no longer in breach of regulations, but CQC said further and sustained improvement was needed.
Improved staffing
Staffing levels had been reviewed and improved since the previous inspection. People and relatives said staff were available when support was needed.
“There is more time to get to know the residents and meet their needs.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw kind support. Staff respected people's choices, dignity and independence.
“People were treated with dignity and respect.” from the report
Personalised care plans
Care plans had been updated to reflect people's current needs, preferences and the support they wanted.
“At this inspection we saw that care plans contained up-to-date information on the support people wanted and needed.” from the report
Activities had improved
An activities co-ordinator involved people in choosing activities, and requested activities were provided.
“We saw examples of people requesting specific activities and these being provided.” from the report
Staff training and support
Staff received induction, ongoing training, regular supervision and appraisals.
“Staff received regular supervisions and appraisals.” from the report
Medicine records and guidance
seriousSome inhaler records did not match the remaining stock. Guidance for some when-required medicines was incomplete, and some creams were given without being recorded.
“Some signed medicines administrations for inhalers did not always match with remaining stock levels, therefore we could not be assured they were being given as prescribed.” from the report
Cleanliness and infection control
needs fixingSome dining rooms were visibly dirty, and personal protective equipment was stored in toilets, increasing the risk of contamination and cross infection.
“However, we saw that some PPE was being stored in toilets which increased the risk of contamination and cross infection.” from the report
Food choice and dining arrangements
needs fixingMenus did not always reflect people's preferences. Dining areas were not always clean and food was not always labelled with its opening date.
“The dining areas were not always clean and well-presented, which impacted on people's dining experience.” from the report
Feedback was not always acted on
needs fixingPeople and relatives gave mixed feedback about involvement in how the home was run. Records showed they were not always told what had happened as a result of their feedback.
“Records showed that people were not always updated on actions taken as a result of feedback that had given.” from the report
Further redecoration needed
minorSome areas had been improved, but other parts of the home still needed redecoration.
“In other areas redecoration was yet to take place.” from the report
- 01How are you checking that inhaler records, when-required medicine guidance and cream applications are accurate every time?
- 02What has been done to keep dining rooms clean and to label opened food correctly?
- 03Where is personal protective equipment now stored, and how do you check infection control arrangements?
- 04How are residents and relatives being involved in menu choices and decisions about their care?
- 05What action has been taken in response to feedback, and how are people told about the outcome?
This was an unannounced follow-up inspection covering all five key questions after the previous inspection; inspection activity ran from 6 to 21 September 2022, with visits on 6 and 7 September. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 October 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.
What inspectors found, April 2022
Requires Improvement; inspectors found risks with medicines, premises, staffing, food and care records, and issued a warning notice.
This was an unannounced inspection. Inspectors visited on 24 March 2022 and reviewed information until 1 April 2022. They spoke with people, relatives and staff, observed care, and checked care, medicines, training and quality records.
All five areas were rated Requires Improvement: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found medicines were not always managed safely, risks and infection control were not always dealt with properly, and call bells sometimes rang for a long time. Food and drink support, dignity, care planning and activities also needed improvement.
There were some positive findings. People were safeguarded from abuse, accidents and incidents were monitored, people could access healthcare, and staff worked with external professionals. The rating had fallen from Good at the previous inspection, published in December 2017.
Safeguarding
Inspectors found that people were protected from abuse and that concerns were investigated. Accidents and incidents were also monitored for learning.
“People were safeguarded from abuse. Staff said they would not hesitate to report any concerns they had.” from the report
Mental capacity
Where people could not make particular decisions, best interest decisions were recorded. Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards applications were appropriately made and monitored.
“Where people lacked mental capacity, best interest decisions were made and recorded on their behalf.” from the report
Health support
People were supported to access healthcare when needed. Relatives described regular appointments supporting people's health and wellbeing.
“People were supported to access healthcare services when needed.” from the report
Partnership working
The home worked effectively with external professionals involved in people's care.
“The service had effective working relationships with a range of external professionals.” from the report
Medicines
seriousMedicine stock discrepancies suggested that people were not always receiving medicines as prescribed. The treatment room was dirty and disorganised, with loose tablets on the floor.
“Stock balance discrepancies showed people were not always getting their medicines as prescribed.” from the report
Premises and infection control
seriousSome parts of the home were in poor repair and visibly dirty. Inspectors said risks were not always assessed or addressed.
“Some areas of the home were visibly dirty, including bathrooms and dining rooms.” from the report
Food and drink
seriousPeople did not always receive food that matched their needs and preferences. One person was offered food that was unsuitable for their specialist diet, and drinks were not always readily available.
“People were not always provided with food that reflected their assessed needs and preferences.” from the report
Staff availability
needs fixingThere were lengthy periods when staff were absent from communal areas because they were supporting people elsewhere. Inspectors saw call bells ringing for prolonged periods.
“We also observed that call bells rang for prolonged periods.” from the report
Dignity and attention
needs fixingStaff sometimes focused on completing tasks rather than treating people as individuals. Inspectors also saw people left without enough checks on their general wellbeing.
“People were not always treated with dignity and respect, and staff did not always have time to check on their general wellbeing.” from the report
Activities
minorActivities were limited and little or nothing took place when the activities co-ordinator was absent. Inspectors did not see people taking part in activities during the visit.
“When the activities co-ordinator was not present limited to no activities took place.” from the report
- 01What has been done to make sure medicines are given as prescribed, PRN instructions are person-centred, and medicine rooms are clean and secure?
- 02What repairs and cleaning improvements have been completed, and how are risks and infection control now checked?
- 03How have staffing levels changed, and how quickly are call bells answered during busy periods?
- 04How will you make sure specialist diets, drinks and snacks match each person's assessed needs and preferences?
- 05How are care plans being updated and followed, and what activities are available when the activities co-ordinator is not present?
This inspection considered all five CQC questions and included the premises and care provided; it was prompted by concerns about medicines, the environment and care. This explanation was written from the published report of 28 April 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 Beeches Care Home
4 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Requires improvement rating throughout.
- October 2022Requires improvementcurrent ratingstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2022Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- February 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2015
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 21 January 2011.
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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
45 live-in carers within about an hour of Stockton-on-Tees
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £980 to £1,190 a week. 40 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“I found Alison to be kind , caring helpful concencious... Alison has a heart of gold”
“Petty introduced herself to Mum every time she was caring for her and responded very quickly to Mum if she was distressed in the night.”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.