Background to this inspection
Updated
27 March 2021
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.
As part of CQC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.
This inspection took place on 18 March 2021 and was announced.
Updated
27 March 2021
About the service: Brook House is residential care home that was providing personal care to seven people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection.
People’s experience of using this service:
• People told us they felt safe and consistently spoke positively about the care they received describing staff as friendly and kind. People were supported by a small team of staff that were flexible to people’s changing needs and had not changed since our last inspection. Staff received training and support that enabled them to carry out their roles effectively. We found that some refresher training was overdue, and the registered manager told us they would review this and put it in place immediately.
• Risks to people such as falls and skin damage, environmental risks and risks of preventable infection were regularly assessed and understood by staff. Any identified risks were managed in the least restrictive way recognising people’s freedoms and choices.
• People had their eating and drinking needs met and described the food as really good. Meals were varied and well balanced.
• Staff were responsive to people’s changing care needs and supported people access healthcare when needed. People had their medicines administered safely by trained staff. Some people had medicine prescribed for as and when needed (prn). Additional recording was required to detail the effectiveness of prn medicines, but this had not been completed. During our inspection the registered manager told us they would review best practice guidance on prn medicines and make any necessary changes to the recording of prn medicines.
• Care and support plans were person centred and recognised people’s cultural and spiritual needs and lifestyle choices. People were protected from discrimination as staff had completed equality and diversity training and respected people’s individual life choices. Care plans were reviewed regularly, and people told us they felt involved in decisions about their care. People had opportunities to discuss their end of life wishes including whether they wanted resuscitation to be attempted.
• People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
• Leadership of the home was visible and created an open, positive culture which enabled people, their families and the staff to share ideas, concerns and feedback. Audits and quality assurance processes were in place to monitor the quality of service delivery. Information about national health and social care accidents and incidents was reviewed and used as an opportunity for reflective learning and service improvements.
A full description of our findings can be found in the sections below.
Rating at last inspection: The service was rated ‘Good’ at our last inspection carried out on the 14 October 2016.
Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on previous rating.
Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.