CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Beechfields
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that risks were assessed and reviewed, medicines were stored and given safely, and there were enough staff to cover shifts. Staff understood safeguarding and emergency procedures.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff received relevant training, supervision and support. People's needs were assessed, care plans were detailed, and the home worked with GPs, district nurses and other health professionals.
- Caring?
- Good
- People described staff as kind, caring and respectful. Inspectors observed compassionate care, with people involved in everyday choices and supported to maintain their independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's preferences and were reviewed monthly or more often when needed. People were supported with activities, complaints information, cultural and religious needs, and end-of-life wishes.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The provider used audits, meetings and feedback to monitor the service. Staff and relatives said the management team was approachable, and records were described as thorough, well organised, complete and accurate.
What inspectors found, January 2019
Beechfields: Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with improvements made since the previous inspection.
This was an unannounced inspection on 03 January 2019. One inspector and an expert by experience spoke with people living in the home, staff, relatives and a provider. They observed care and reviewed care records, risk assessments, medicines records, staff files, rotas, policies and quality checks.
The home provided accommodation and personal care for up to nine older people. Eight people lived there at the time. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines arrangements, suitable risk assessments and appropriate safeguarding procedures. People said they felt safe and were treated with kindness, dignity and respect.
Care plans recorded people's needs, choices and preferences. Staff supported people to maintain their health, take part in activities and keep relationships with relatives. The home was also found to have effective management checks and good communication with health and social care professionals.
The overall rating remained Good, with Good ratings for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The provider had acted on two recommendations from the 2016 inspection, concerning emergency planning and the risk of waterborne viruses.
Safe medicines
Inspectors found that medicines were stored securely and records showed that people received them as prescribed.
“There were no gaps or omissions which indicated people received their medicines as prescribed.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People spoke positively about staff. Inspectors saw staff providing care in a compassionate and friendly way while respecting privacy and dignity.
“We observed staff providing care in a compassionate and friendly way.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's needs, preferences, likes, dislikes and social needs. Staff knew people well and supported their choices and independence.
“People's care plans clearly detailed their care and support needs. People were fully involved with the care planning process.” from the report
Strong management checks
The provider carried out regular audits covering areas such as medicines, care plans, training and fire safety. Actions identified through these checks had been completed.
“Regular audits to check the quality of the service continued to be completed.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you adjust staffing if my relative's needs increased or they needed more one-to-one support?
- 02How would you make sure my relative's food preferences, allergies and dietary needs were followed?
- 03What activities would be available that match my relative's interests and abilities?
- 04How would you record and review my relative's wishes about future or end-of-life care?
- 05How often would my relative's care plan and risk assessments be reviewed if their needs changed?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, and the previous overall rating of Good remained unchanged. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 January 2019 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 Beechfields
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- January 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2016Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2015Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 28 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.
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39 live-in carers within about an hour of Kent
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 £1,260 a week. 33 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Always on time and with a lovely smile for my mum. Theresa is kind and sensitive to my mum's needs.”
“Irene was a very kind and empathetic carer who knew just the right words to say to put a smile on my face.”
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.