Latest Inspection
This is the latest available inspection report for this service, carried out on 19th January 2010. it is an annual review prepared by CQC after examining previous reports and information from the provider. At the time of this report, CQC judged the service to be Good.
The inspector made no statutory requirements on the home as a result of this inspection
and there were no outstanding actions from the previous inspection report.
For extracts, read the latest CQC inspection for Birch Hill.
Annual service review
Name of Service: Birch Hill The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: two star good service 1 5 1 2 2 0 0 8 A quality rating is our assessment of how well a care home, agency or scheme is meeting the needs of the people who use it. We give a quality rating following a full review of the service. We call this review a ‘key’ inspection We do an annual service review when there has been no key inspection of the service in the last 12 months. It does not involve a visit to the service but is a summary of new information given to us, or collected by us, since the last key inspection or annual service review.
Has this annual service review changed our opinion of the service?
No You should read the last key inspection report for this service to get a full picture of how well outcomes for the people using the service are being met. The date by which we will do a key inspection: Name of inspector: Anne UrwinBrown Date of this annual service review: 1 4 1 2 2 0 0 9 Annual Service Review Page 1 of 7 Information about the service
Address of service: Birch Hill Norham Berwick Upon Tweed Northumberland TD15 2JZ 01289-382216 01289382087 denise.turnbull@ben.org.uk Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address:
Name of registered provider(s): Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : dementia old age, not falling within any other category BEN - Motor & Allied Trades Benevolent Fund Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 0 0 2 24 Have there been any changes in the ownership, management or the Yes service’s registration details in the last 12 months? If yes, what have they been: Date of last key inspection: Date of last annual service review (if applicable): Brief description of the service Birch Hill is situated on the edge of Norham village, which is approximately eight miles from Berwick upon Tweed. There are local bus services to Berwick where there is a main line railway station. Birch Hill is a detached house situated in its own attractive gardens with views of the village and the river Tweed. The Home is owned by BEN Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund and is registered as a charity. Birch Hill provides comfortable, homely accommodation for up to twenty-six elderly people two of whom suffer some degree of dementia. All service users have access to information about the home including inspection reports. None 1 5 1 2 2 0 0 8 Annual Service Review Page 2 of 7 Fees for the home range from £460.00 to £490.00. Annual Service Review Page 3 of 7 Service update since the last key inspection or annual service review:
What did we do for this annual service review? We looked at all the information that we have received, or asked for, since the last key inspection on 15 December 2008 when the service received a 2 star good rating. This included: The annual quality assurance assessment (AQAA) that was sent to us by the service. The AQAA is a self-assessment that focuses on how well outcomes are being met for people using the service. It also gave us some numerical information about the service. Surveys returned to us by people using the service and from other people with an interest in the service. Information we have about how the service has managed any complaints. What the service has told us about things that have happened in the service, these are called notifications and are a legal requirement. The previous key inspection and the results of any other visits that we have made to the service in the last 12 months. Relevant information from other organisations. What other people have told us about the service. What has this told us about the service? The home sent us their annual quality assurance assessment (AQAA) when we asked for it. It was clear and gave us all the information we asked for. We looked at the information in the AQAA and our judgment is that the home is still providing a good service and that they know what further improvements they need to make. Five people living in the home returned surveys. There were positive comments about the friendly staff, the way the home provides comfort and security for people living there and the quality care provided. Three relatives surveys were received. One person said Very friendly staff and cheerful. Personal care good. Good facilities for different needs: - television room, quiet room, sun room, lovely gardens and all are well kept. Another said It is providing my relative with the security she required, and safety, also most staff are well mannered and helpful, but due to staffing levels they do not have enough time to spend with my relative. Three surveys mentioned staffing levels as an issue and two of them mentioned that activities are affected by staffing levels and sometimes do not happen because of this. The manager and the AQAA says that staffing levels are being maintained at appropriate levels and it is only occasional sickness that may impact on the activity programme. Another relatives survey mentioned concerns about the noise from staff when the Annual Service Review Page 4 of 7 manager was not present and this has been discussed with the manager who is looking into this. One relative said there was a good atmosphere in the home and a very nice staff team. We received comments from 7 staff and six of these provided very positive responses to questions about the quality of care support provided to people living in the home. Six staff said they feel well supported, there are good training opportunities, each person living in the home is treated as an individual and that the home is clean and comfortable. thought that the quality of care provided was good. One person thought that meals could be improved and two other people said that they thought that they needed more staff. One professional completed a survey, which provided positive comments about the service offered to the people living in the home. This person said that the home is in a super setting. Residents have bright, cheerful room. I believe that food is very good. Always very appropriate temperatures indoors. She also said that the manager acts promptly on any issues raised and takes appropriate action. The AQAA tells us that care planning systems have been updated since the last inspection and each person has in place a detailed plan. The services statement of purpose and centre guide have been updated so that people considering coming to live at Birch Hill have enough information. The AQAA tells us that the home uses surveys to ensure that people have opportunities to comment on the service and the information from these is used to help plan changes. There are good systems in place for dealing with complaints and all staff have completed Safeguarding training. No complaints have been made in the past year and one safeguarding referral has been made and appropriate steps were taken by the manager with regard to this matter. The AQAA confirms that appropriate action is taken to ensure that people living in the home are protected by good policies, procedures and practice. Since the last inspection improvements to the conservatory have been completed and blinds have been fitted. There have been improvements to the decor and furnishings as part of a planned programme of improvements. The AQAA tells us that the home is well maintained, clean and well furnished. The vegetable garden has been extended and now produce features regularly on the menu. A vehicle taking a single wheelchair has been purchased for the home and provides better opportunities for people to go out. Staff training opportunities are good and twenty out of twenty-one care staff have completed national qualifications in care. The AQAA tells us that there are good systems in place for ensuring that staff receive regular supervision and annual appraisals. There are regular staff meetings to foster good communication. There is a settled and experienced staff team in place at Birch Hill. The home continues to let us know about things that have happened since our last key inspection and they have shown that they have managed issues well. They work well with us and have shown us that their service continues to provide good outcomes for the people who use it. What are we going to do as a result of this annual service review? Annual Service Review Page 5 of 7 We are not going to change our inspection plan, and will do an annual service review by 13 December 2010. However we can inspect the service at any time if we have concerns about the quality of the service or the safety of the people using the service. Annual Service Review Page 6 of 7 Reader Information
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