CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Bethany House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home prevented and controlled infection. They found screening for visitors, safe admissions, testing, effective use of protective equipment, social distancing, cleaning and up-to-date infection control policies.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, May 2021
Bethany House was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about its infection prevention and control measures.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 6 May 2021. Inspectors checked how the home prevented and controlled COVID-19 infections.
They found visitor screening, testing, personal protective equipment and social distancing measures in place. New residents were admitted after a negative test and supported to self-isolate for up to 14 days.
Inspectors found the home clean and hygienic, with trained staff, enough protective equipment and suitable cleaning and ventilation. Staff were observed using protective equipment properly and responding promptly to people's needs.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the visit did not give an overall quality rating or a rated score for all five areas.
Visitor controls
Visitors were screened when entering, including health and temperature checks. Protective equipment and lateral flow testing were provided.
“The registered manager had introduced a screening process for visitors when entering the building, which included health and temperature checks as well as the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) and lateral flow device testing for COVID-19.” from the report
Safe admissions
New residents were admitted after a negative COVID-19 test and supported to self-isolate for up to 14 days. Their health and wellbeing was monitored during this period.
“People were only admitted following a negative COVID-19 test result and supported to self-isolate for up to 14 days following admission to reduce the risk of introducing infection.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the premises clean and hygienic. Staff followed an enhanced cleaning schedule and the home had good ventilation.
“The premises had a high level of cleanliness and was hygienic throughout.” from the report
Trained and prepared staff
Staff had infection control training and were observed using protective equipment correctly. Inspectors also found enough staff to provide continuity if there was a shortage.
“There were sufficient staff to provide continuity of support should there be a staff shortage.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are visitors currently screened, and what protective equipment or testing is required?
- 02How are new residents tested, supported to isolate and monitored after admission?
- 03How often are infection control procedures and cleaning arrangements reviewed?
- 04How do you make sure there are enough trained staff if there is a staff shortage?
- 05What activities are available if infection control restrictions affect people's usual activities?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control arrangements under the Safe question; the service was inspected but not rated overall. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 May 2021 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, October 2019
Bethany House rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some medicines and record-keeping improvements needed.
This was an unannounced inspection on 3 October 2019. Inspectors spoke with people living there, relatives, professionals and staff. They also checked care records, staff files, training, accidents, medicines and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People said they felt safe and were happy with their care. Inspectors saw staff treating people respectfully and responding to their needs.
There were some areas to improve. The home was advised to use recognised guidance for storing and giving medicines. Some medicine storage and checking arrangements, risk records and care records needed action, which the manager took during the inspection.
The previous inspection, published in April 2017, also rated the home Good overall. This inspection was planned because of that previous rating.
People felt safe
Everyone spoken to said they felt safe. Staff knew what to do if they suspected abuse, and safety checks and risk systems were in place.
“All of the people and relatives we spoke with told us they felt safe living in the service.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People described staff as kind and caring. Inspectors saw staff respond to individual needs and protect people's privacy and dignity.
“People received good care. All of the people who used the service, relatives and professionals told us they were happy with the care they received at the service.” from the report
Choice and consent
People were involved in decisions about their care and staff supported independence. Inspectors saw staff asking permission before providing care and knocking before entering bedrooms.
“During the inspection we observed staff seeking consent from people who used the service before undertaking any care or activity” from the report
Activities and communication
The home offered activities and trips, and used pictures and photographs to help people understand information and find their rooms.
“The service had developed systems to ensure people were enabled to take part in a range of activities of their choosing.” from the report
Positive leadership
People, visitors, professionals and staff gave positive feedback about the manager. Audits, meetings and surveys were used to monitor the home and make improvements.
“All people, visitors, professionals and staff were positive about the registered manager and the support they provided.” from the report
Medicine storage and checks
needs fixingFridge temperatures were outside recommended guidelines, and one person checking controlled medicine stocks did not have the required care-team training. The manager acted immediately, but the report recommended using recognised guidance.
“We recommend the provider seeks nationally recognised guidance to ensure medicines are stored and administered appropriately.” from the report
Some records needed more detail
needs fixingSome risk assessments and care records did not contain enough information about people's individual needs. The manager updated these during the inspection.
“Where we saw some risks for people, records required further information.” from the report
Possible weekend staffing pressure
minorMost feedback about staffing was positive and inspectors saw call bells answered promptly. However, one person said staffing could sometimes be short at weekends.
“Generally there are enough staff, though they can be short at the weekends.” from the report
- 01How are medicine fridge temperatures checked now, and what happens if they fall outside the recommended range?
- 02Who checks controlled medicine stocks, and how do you confirm they have the right training and skills?
- 03How do you make sure each person's risk assessments and care plans contain detailed, current instructions?
- 04How many staff are normally available at weekends, and how do you cover unexpected absences?
- 05How are activities chosen to match each person's interests, communication needs and abilities?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, with the previous Good ratings remaining unchanged. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 October 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 Bethany House
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- May 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- October 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 5 May 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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85 live-in carers within about an hour of Lancashire
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. 78 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
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