The Care Quality Commission

Archived: Brookvale Care Home

111 Warwick Road, Olton, Solihull, West Midlands, B92 7HP (0121) 706 9097

Provided and run by:
Heart of England Care

All Inspections

16 July 2013

During a routine inspection

We visited unannounced and spoke with the deputy manager, staff, people who lived at the home and visiting relatives. We observed care and interactions within the home and looked at a sample of records. We spent most of our time on the middle and upper floors and made a shorter visit to the ground floor.

We found that staff provided good support to people. We saw lots of individual positive attention with people being reassured and being responded to positively. Relatives we spoke with were very positive about the staff and the care. Comments from relatives included 'The staff are fantastic' and 'They make you really welcome.' One relative told us 'There is a lot of loving, laughing and music'. Another said 'Happy with the ground floor; people are allowed to roam.'

Plenty of fluids were available and staff were busy ensuring that everyone was encouraged to drink on a very hot day. Confines of space, particularly on the two upper floors meant that people were in close proximity in communal areas. This made extra work for the staff, particularly on the top floor when one person's behaviour aggravated other people. The limited space and poor state of some fixtures and fittings detracted from the good work being done by staff. We noted how cheerful and settled people quickly became whenever staff gave them individual attention.

21 May 2012

During a routine inspection

Other than one person, recently arrived from another service, who at times loudly announced they wished to go home, everyone we spoke with and observed appeared content with their environment. Typical comments from people included; 'It's nice here' and 'the food is good'. One person told us 'Everyone gets on well here'. Staff advised that, while people were generally content with their environment, as the day draws on some people, believing that they are at some sort of day service, may announce they wish 'to go home now'.

People living at the home were clean, well-groomed, and were well-disposed towards each other and the staff. We spoke with four relatives during our visit. They were all complimentary about the service.

We spoke with ten people using the service who were able to give responses. Apart from the person mentioned above, they all indicated they were happy with the home, singling out the food as good. There were lots of smiles and, as one relative said, 'happy faces'.