CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Birchwood Court Residential Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that risks were assessed and managed, staff were safely recruited, and there were enough staff. Medicines were administered safely and records were accurate.
- Effective?
- Good
- People had detailed assessments and care plans, and staff received regular training and supervision. Staff supported people's nutrition, healthcare and legal rights.
- Caring?
- Good
- People and relatives described staff as kind and respectful. Inspectors found that people were supported to make choices, maintain dignity and remain as independent as possible.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's individual needs and were reviewed regularly. People had support with communication, meaningful activities, relationships and complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The registered manager had systems to monitor quality, learn from incidents and use feedback. Inspectors found a positive staff culture and partnership working with relatives and healthcare professionals.
What inspectors found, September 2022
Birchwood Court Residential Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care across all five areas.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 14 June, 28 June and 11 July 2022. Inspectors reviewed care, medicines, staffing, recruitment, records, the building and infection control. They spoke with people living there, relatives and staff.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led were all rated Good. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines arrangements, personalised care plans and suitable training.
People and relatives spoke positively about the home. Inspectors found that people felt safe, were treated with kindness and dignity, and were supported to make choices. The home had systems to learn from incidents, handle complaints and monitor care quality.
This was the first inspection since the current service was registered in 2020. The report says the previous provider's rating was Good, published on 20 February 2020. The CQC will continue to monitor information about the home.
Kind and respectful staff
People and relatives were very positive about the staff. Inspectors found that people were treated with kindness, dignity and respect.
“They are absolutely wonderful. They are all genuinely kind people.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough suitably qualified staff and safe recruitment checks. Medicines were given as prescribed, with regular checks by the management team.
“Medicine administration records were accurate and there were regular checks of these by the management team.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans reflected people's needs and choices. People, relatives and healthcare professionals were involved in planning and reviewing care.
“People had person-centred care plans which reflected their needs and choices.” from the report
Strong quality monitoring
The home used feedback, complaints and learning from incidents to improve care. Inspectors found the quality and assurance systems were embedded.
“The quality and assurance systems in place had been reviewed and embedded throughout the service” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you adapt the care plan to my relative's specific needs and preferences, and how often would we be involved in reviews?
- 02How do you make sure there are enough staff on each shift for my relative's needs?
- 03How would you support my relative's communication needs, including providing information in a way they understand?
- 04What activities would be available that match my relative's interests, and how could they help plan them?
- 05How would you support my relative if their health changed or they needed end of life care?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions and infection prevention and control; it was the first inspection since the current service was registered. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 September 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 Birchwood Court Residential Care Home
4 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- September 2022Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Birchwood Court Residential Care Home →
- February 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2020
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 15 September 2020.
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
47 live-in carers within about an hour of County Durham
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 £960 to £1,210 a week. 42 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“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.