West Berkshire Council-run Birchwood Care Home in Newbury rated 'Good' by Care Quality Commission
BIRCHWOOD Care Home in Newbury – rated 'inadequate' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) just a few years ago – has now been given a 'good' rating.
Birchwood is one of three care facilities run by West Berkshire Council, having been acquired from a private firm in 2017.
The council took over management after a damning CQC report, which found that residents were not adequately safeguarded from abuse.
Among other complaints, the 2017 report alluded to an incident in which a relative had to clean a resident's bathroom after it had been left dirty for an unknown period of time.
At the time, the home was assigned an 'inadequate' rating, with the regulator warning that the private operator did not have the systems in place to satisfactorily overhaul Birchwood's services.
Since the takeover, council officials and home staff have worked to implement the regulator's recommendations.
The CQC's latest visit was between May 17 and May 18, and a report was subsequently published on June 4.
It noted that Birchwood staff were experienced and professional and that they worked around the clock to provide the home's residents with social activities.
A service manager at Responsive Care Provider Services, Sara Ross, said: "The last 15 months have been unlike any other and we are so grateful to all our staff who keep coming in and working so hard to provide great care to our residents in what have been incredibly difficult circumstances.
"Staff have done exceptionally well to cope both with the challenges caused by the pandemic and to address the recommendations of the CQC to ensure we meet their standards."
Birchwood caters for up to 60 people aged over 65.
In the light of the coronavirus pandemic, the CQC noted that Birchwood management had been working effectively with health and safeguarding authorities to ensure residents were protected.
The council's executive member for adult social care Joanne Stewart (Con, Tilehurst Birch Copse) said: "I am thrilled to see the report from this inspection and hope that this reassures residents and families of our commitment to the highest standards of care.
"I would like to thank all the staff for the efforts they put in day to day to provide excellent care for all our residents, particularly given the challenging circumstances during the Covid-19 pandemic.”
"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the staff in all of the care homes across the district, both those run by the council and those in the private sector.
"They have been very much on the front line during Covid-19 and we really appreciate the continuous care and commitment they have demonstrated."
