Beacher Hall Care Home

We found the following examples of good practice

● The home was observed to be clean and free of malodour. The home had designated cleaning staff who were observed cleaning the home throughout the inspection. There was a cleaning schedule in place to ensure that all areas of the home were adequately cleaned.

● The service had implemented personal protective equipment (PPE) stations which were situated in the reception area of the home near the main entrance and near the garden entrance. When visitors came to the home, a designated member of staff supported the visitors to ensure they followed safe infection control, PPE guidance and to check whether they had any symptoms of coronavirus before entering the home. This included taking the visitor's temperature.

● The service had set up covered seating areas in the gardens of the home that were used for relatives to visit their loved ones. In the covered area there was a table with a clear screen placed between the relative and the person living in the home. This was to reduce the potential risk of spread of infection.

● Visitors were required to book to see their loved one to ensure that visits were spread out to avoid the potential risk of transmission to other visitors and to allow the staff team to clean and sanitise the visiting area between visits.

● Where people were shielding or self-isolating, PPE stations were set up outside the individual bedrooms. Each station was equipped with all required PPE in line with government guidelines.

● All people being admitted to the home were tested for coronavirus by the care staff on admission. People were asked to self-isolate in their bedrooms for 14 days following their admission into the home, even if a negative test was received. If people went out into the community such as for day trips, they were also offered to undertake a test on their return. People living in the home were being tested for coronavirus on a monthly basis. Staff were also being tested monthly and we were informed the home were returning to weekly testing of their staff in line with the governments 'whole home' testing approach.

● Individual risk assessments had been conducted on staff which identified any vulnerabilities they may have in relation to coronavirus and any mitigating action that the provider needed to implement. This was being reviewed at the time of inspection to include black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people.

● The service had appropriate infection control policies and procedures in place. These were developed in line with current government guidance. There was prominent signage around the home for staff and visitors on what measures were being taken to minimise the risk of spread of infection and keep themselves and those around them safe. These messages were also communicated through email and on the provider's website.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found