Care Quality Commission Report – Birchwood Care

Birchwood Care Home in Newbury has been rated as ‘Requiring Improvement’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).  The report, published today (23 August), follows an inspection visit between 31 May and 4 June this year. 

West Berkshire Council took over Birchwood in challenging circumstances in June 2017 and began implementing an action plan to bring standards at Birchwood into line with their other care homes (which are all rated ‘Good’) and to offer ten ‘step down’ beds to help speed the recovery of people who would otherwise have to stay in a hospital. 

In November 2017, the CQC rated Birchwood as ‘Inadequate’.  The council was disappointed with this judgement, but acknowledged that the work needed to bring it up to the council’s high standards would take more than the four month period on which the CQC had judged. 

This new report moves the rating up one level, which the council understands is the maximum increase that the CQC allows given the previous ‘Inadequate’ rating.  

Whilst the report flags some specific issues to be addressed, there were a number of positive comments within the report that reflected the range of improvements already in place. 

For example, relatives stated that they had seen a “vast improvement” since the council had taken the home over and that “this place has seen some difficult times, but they (the council) are really picking things up.” The “openness and transparency” of the improved complaints procedure was acknowledged by a relative as an illustration of the “drive to achieving change.”

In response to the draft report, the council had asked for some statements which they felt were factually incorrect to be amended, and were disappointed by the CQC’s refusal to take any of these corrections on board in the published version. 

Graham Bridgman, West Berkshire’s Executive Member for Adult Social Care, said: “We knew that this would be the best rating that we would get because of the CQC policy that meant we could not jump more than one grade, but we take on board all of the issues raised.  

“Having said this, the Inspection was in May and we have never said that this was our finished product – when I visited Birchwood last month I found the manager and staff enthusiastic about the care they were providing, and a great deal of work being undertaken to further improve the facilities for residents. 

“We are already seeing positive feedback from residents, relatives and staff and, whilst there are always lessons to be learned, it is our firm intention to make changes that are sustainable.  This may take a little longer than both we and the CQC would like but it is vital that we work towards long term improvement.”