CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Birchlands Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff, suitable recruitment checks, safe medicines systems and safeguarding arrangements. Some choking risk assessments had been incorrectly calculated, but the provider took action to correct them.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had induction, training, supervision and competency checks. People's health, nutrition and hydration needs were assessed, although one DoLS condition was not being followed on the inspection day and was then addressed.
- Caring?
- Good
- People said staff were kind and caring. Inspectors saw positive relationships, and found that people's dignity, privacy, choices and independence were respected.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's needs and preferences and were reviewed when needs changed. People had access to activities, community facilities, healthcare and a complaints process.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had a management team, regular audits and a home improvement plan. Four notifications were sent retrospectively because of a misunderstanding, and the provider changed its systems to prevent this happening again.
What inspectors found, February 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe and person-centred care, with some risk assessments and records needing correction.
This was an unannounced inspection on 24 January 2019. Inspectors began in the early hours because they had received concerns about morning and evening routines. They spoke with 10 people, one relative and staff, and checked care records, medicines, recruitment files and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, trained staff and care plans that were updated when people's needs changed.
There were some issues. A few choking risk assessments had been calculated incorrectly, and one condition on a person's DoLS authorisation was not being followed on the inspection day. The home took action to correct these points. The previous overall rating was also Good.
Kind and respectful staff
People described staff as kind and caring. Inspectors saw positive relationships and found that privacy and dignity were respected.
“People told us staff were kind and caring, and had time to chat with them.” from the report
Safe medicines and staffing
The home had enough staff to meet people's needs and medicines records showed people received medicines as prescribed.
“Medication administration records showed that people had received medicines as prescribed.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans included people's preferences and were updated when their needs changed. Staff supported people to take part in activities and use local facilities.
“Care plans were regularly reviewed and updated when people's needs changed.” from the report
Learning from incidents
After a fire, the provider investigated what happened, worked with the fire service and changed how laundry was stored.
“The incident was well managed and nobody was harmed.” from the report
Choking risk assessments
needs fixingSome choking risk assessments had been calculated incorrectly. Inspectors raised this with the provider, which took action to put it right.
“We found some choking risk assessments had been incorrectly calculated which we highlighted to the provider who took action to rectify the issue.” from the report
DoLS condition not followed
seriousOne condition on a person's legal authorisation was not being followed on the inspection day. The provider acted and later sent information showing how it was being met.
“However, on the day of our inspection the provider found a condition on one person's DoLS authorisation was not being adhered to, and took action to address this.” from the report
Late notifications
minorFour notifications required by CQC were submitted retrospectively because of a misunderstanding. The provider changed its systems to reduce the chance of this happening again.
“We received four notifications retrospectively due to a misunderstanding of the requirements, but the provider made changes to their systems to ensure this would not recur.” from the report
- 01What changes were made after the incorrectly calculated choking risk assessments, and how are these checks now reviewed?
- 02How do you make sure every condition on a person's DoLS authorisation is followed and recorded?
- 03What changes were made so required notifications are sent to CQC on time?
- 04How are people's choices about morning and evening routines recorded and checked?
- 05How do you use feedback from people and relatives to improve the home?
This was an unannounced scheduled inspection covering all five CQC questions and the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 21 February 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 Birchlands Care Home
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2015
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 September 2015.
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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37 live-in carers within about an hour of York
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 £1,270 a week. 32 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“Carla has been a god send with the implementation of bringing mum back home from respite care.”
“She was always 'just present enough': attentive, available, kind and engaging, but without ever over-stepping any boundary”
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.