CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Birchmere Mews
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, July 2019
Rated Good in all areas; inspectors found kind, safe care, with some records and dementia-friendly signage needing improvement.
This was an unannounced planned inspection on 30 May 2019. Inspectors spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and managers. They observed care and checked care plans, medicines, complaints, safety checks and training records.
The home was rated Good overall and Good for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, clean surroundings, well-managed medicines and care that was usually personalised and respectful.
Some improvements were needed. Medicine stock records were not always accurate, signage was limited for people living with dementia, and one privacy incident was identified. The home said it would address these issues.
Enough staff
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs. Call bells were answered promptly and staff were present in communal areas.
“There were enough staff at the home to meet people needs.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff supported people with warmth and patience. They understood how to communicate with people and respected their choices, privacy and dignity.
“Throughout our visit staff offered kind and compassionate care.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's histories, likes and dislikes. Staff respected individual routines and supported preferred activities and interests.
“People received personalised care from staff who knew them well.” from the report
Good healthcare support
Staff involved health professionals when needed and followed advice about people's health, nutrition and end of life care.
“People were supported to access healthcare professionals when needed.” from the report
Open management
People and relatives could raise concerns and give feedback. The management team used feedback and checks to plan improvements.
“Feedback from people, relatives and staff was encouraged through meetings and some quality questionnaires.” from the report
Medicine stock records
needs fixingMedicine administration records were generally completed correctly, but stock levels were not always recorded accurately. The manager said this would be addressed immediately.
“However, we found stock levels had not always been accurately recorded.” from the report
Limited dementia-friendly signage
needs fixingSome people found it difficult to find their way around the upper floors. The home was reviewing how signage and visual prompts could be improved.
“Signage to help people orientate themselves around the home was limited.” from the report
One privacy incident
needs fixingInspectors found one incident where a staff member removed bed sheets without asking permission. The manager was told so action could be taken.
“There was one incident that compromised a person's dignity when a staff member pulled the sheets off a person in bed without asking permission to locate television controls.” from the report
- 01What changes have been made to signage and visual prompts to help people living with dementia find their way around?
- 02How do you now check that medicine stock levels are recorded accurately?
- 03What action was taken after the incident involving a person's privacy and bed sheets?
- 04How do you check that best interest decisions have the correct legal authorisation?
- 05How will you keep families updated about complaints and improvements?
This was a planned inspection of the newly registered service covering the home, the care provided and all five CQC questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 July 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 Birchmere Mews
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- July 2019Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2018
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 28 February 2018.
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
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Solihull
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 £1,250 a week. 78 can care for a couple. 9 years' experience on average.
“If you bump into her in the night on her way to the bathroom she will still inquire how you are and if everything is alright.”
“I have never met a person who is so kind and thinks about others before himself to such an extent as Chris Malagala.”
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.