Archived: The Brooklands

Updated 12 July 2016

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

The inspection took place on 5 May 2016 and was unannounced. It was carried out by one inspector.

Before the inspection we reviewed the information available to us about the home, such as the notifications that they had sent us. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.

As some people were living with dementia at The Brooklands, we used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a specific way of observing care to help us understand the experiences of people who could not talk with us

During this inspection we spoke with four people and two relatives. We spoke with four staff members and the registered manager. We observed how care was delivered and reviewed the care records and risk assessments. We checked medicines administration records and reviewed how complaints were managed. We looked at three staff recruitment records and staff training records. We also reviewed information on how the quality of the service was monitored and managed.

Updated 12 July 2016

The Brooklands is located in the village of Bakewell. It is registered to provide personal care for up to 18 older adults, which may include some people living with dementia. This inspection was unannounced and took place on 5 May 2016. At the time of our inspection there were 16 people living there.

There was a registered manager at this service. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons.’ Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. At our last inspection in January 2014 the provider was fully compliant in all areas inspected.

During our inspection we observed that staff were friendly and approachable. We observed staff delivering care which met people’s individual needs and which supported them in a respectful and appropriate way. There was training and processes for staff to follow in place to keep people safe and staff followed these. People’s physical and mental health was promoted. Medicines were stored appropriately and they were administered and recorded as prescribed.

We saw staff ensured people were comfortable and had a newspaper, magazine or puzzle of their choice to occupy them. We saw people were supported in a relaxed and unhurried manner. Staff were caring and communicated well with people. Staff joined people for lunch and ensured the occasion was social as well monitoring people’s nutritional activities.

Staff focused on people they were caring for rather that the task they were carrying out. Staff spoke in a positive manner about the people they cared for and had taken the time to get to know people’s preferences and wishes. Staff had a good understanding of people’s needs and this was demonstrated in their responses to people and recognition of when people required additional support.

People’s privacy was respected. People had their independence promoted. They were offered choice on how they wanted their care delivered and were given choices throughout the day. The service endeavoured to provide end of life care so people had a choice about where they spend the end of their life. Relatives were offered the opportunity to stay with their relative at this time.

Staff were appropriately trained and confident to meet the needs of people they cared for. Staff had access to additional training specific to the needs of people using the service, such as palliative care, dementia awareness and falls management.

People, relatives and staff spoke very highly of the registered manager and felt the home was well-led.

People were supported to maintain relationships with family and friends. Visitors were welcomed at any time and offered refreshments or meals if visiting over a meal time.

Records we looked at were personalised and included decisions people had made about their care including their likes, dislikes and personal preferences. There was a varied activity programme for people based on individual and group preferences. Activities included one-to-one time and outings or time in pursuit of personal hobbies or interests

The service was managed in an inclusive manner. People and staff had their input respected. Staff were aware of their roles and responsibilities for people’s care. The registered manager had systems in place to review the service and to ensure the service responded to the current needs of people.