Salutem

Operators of Birchwood care home in Chesham have committed to a programme of improvements following a recent Care Quality Commission inspection.

The home, which provides support to people with a learning or physical disability, received an Inadequate rating from the inspectors, and is now in special measures, meaning CQC is closely monitoring it. It is the only one of 29 adult residential regulated services operated by Ambito Care to receive this grading.

The service is actively working with the inspector and the regulator to confirm that the improvements being made meet the CQC requirements – which the home is confident they do. It will be re-inspected over the next few months.

Martyn Heginbotham, chief operating officer said: “We are bitterly disappointed that the service did not meet the standards we expect at this latest CQC inspection. As the CQC acknowledged in its report we are working with them and other authorities in an honest and transparent way, and have made urgent and essential changes in order to address the feedback in the report.

“The inspection team has praised the home for the proactive, speedy and open way in which these improvements have been made.”

Inspectors found:

• People's changing needs had not been reviewed to ensure the required staffing levels were provided.
• Up-to-date speech and language therapist guidance was not reflected in two people's care records.
• Some people were prescribed transdermal adhesive patches which are placed on the body to deliver a specific dose of medicine through the skin. Transdermal patch records weren’t in use to show where the patch was applied on the skin and the old patch removed after each administration.
• People's night-time personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP's) indicated that some people required two staff to evacuate the building. The registered manager hadn’t considered how two staff plus a sleep-in staff member could safely evacuate people at night.

However, the report highlighted positive comments from the individuals supported and their families.

These include – ‘A person told us they felt safe and described staff as "very good." Relatives were happy with the care provided. They felt confident their family member got safe care. They described staff as "friendly, welcoming, caring" and gave examples where they felt staff had gone above and beyond what is expected of them by arranging home visits, celebrating birthdays, supporting their family members with an activity and planning holidays.’

The inspector also noted that ‘People's health needs were met, and relatives felt involved in their family member's care. We observed positive relationships between a staff member and the people they supported, which demonstrated mutual respect.’

One relative referred to Birchwood as ‘a wonderful place’.

Martyn Heginbotham continued “Our priority remains ensuring that the individuals in our care at Birchwood continue to enjoy fulfilling lives in a safe and supportive environment. We are pleased to see the positive comments from the people we support and their families in the inspection report.

“The dedicated staff team will be given every support to enable them to provide the best possible outcomes for all at Birchwood in line with what we expect and aim to deliver at all of our services.

“We have already introduced changes to the leadership team, have accelerated a programme of refurbishment works, and have a clear action plan in place to ensure the required improvements to the environment are made quickly, effectively and sustainably.”

ENDS

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED ON BEHALF OF AMBITO CARE

For further information contact Caroline Walker on 01325 363436

Editor’s Notes:

• Ambito Care and Education comprises the former Scope services which include four education facilities, 30 care homes and ten day services.