Background to this inspection
Updated
26 March 2020
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
Brigstock House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 25 February 2020.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we held about the service. This included notifications the provider is required by law to send us about events that happen within the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.
During the inspection
We spoke with two people and interacted with two people who did not use verbal communication. We spoke with one healthcare professional, three staff, the deputy manager and registered manager. We reviewed four people’s care records and five staff files. We also looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including audits, policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We contacted two healthcare professionals to gather their views about the service.
Updated
26 March 2020
About the service
Brigstock House is a care home registered to provide personal care for up to eight people with a learning disability. At the time of the inspection eight people were using the service in one adapted building.
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The provider protected people from abuse by ensuring staff received training to safeguard them and had clear safeguarding procedures in place. The risk of people experiencing avoidable harm was reduced because risks were assessed, and measures were put in place to mitigate them. People received their medicines appropriately. There were enough staff available to keep people safe and they were recruited through processes that allowed the provider to be confident they were safe and suitable to deliver care and support. The home was clean and staff followed good hygiene practices to control infection risks.
People’s needs were assessed by the provider as well as health and social care professionals. Staff were trained and supervised in their roles. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People accessed healthcare services whenever they required.
Staff were caring, considerate and empathetic towards people. Staff knew people and understood their non-verbal communication. People were supported to make choices about how they received their care and support and were encouraged to be as independent as possible. Staff respected people’s privacy and dignity.
The service was person centred and people’s care plans detailed how people wanted their needs to be met. Staff supported people to engage in activities at home and in their community and to go on holiday each year. The provider made information accessible to people and responded to complaints appropriately. Staff supported people to maintain relationships with family and friends.
The service had a registered manager and deputy manager in post who had embedded robust quality assurance processes at the service. Staff felt supported and their views were gathered to make improvements to the service. The managers and staff worked in partnership with external agencies as well as the provider’s other services to ensure people received the care and support they required.
The service applied the principles and values the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence. The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published 08 August 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Brigstock House on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.