Brownlands Nursing Home

On this page

• Overview
• Kindness, compassion and dignity
• Treating people as individuals
• Independence, choice and control
• Responding to people’s immediate needs
• Workforce wellbeing and enablement

Caring – this means we looked for evidence that the provider involved people and treated them with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.

At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good.

Good: This meant people were supported and treated with dignity and respect; and involved as partners in their care.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The provider treated people with kindness, compassion and respect, and promoted their privacy and dignity. Staff also treated colleagues and visiting professionals with respect.

People and their relatives spoke positively about staff. One relative said, “All the staff here are very welcoming, helpful, incredibly caring and amazing. I can’t rate this home high enough.”

We observed staff supporting people in a way that maintained their dignity and privacy. For example, staff adjusted a person’s clothing when they stood up, knocked before entering rooms, and spoke discreetly when asking if people needed support with personal care.

Some people could not share their views directly, so we used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). We observed mainly positive and some neutral interactions, with no negative interactions.

The provider treated people as individuals and ensured care met their needs and preferences. Care plans included people’s likes, backgrounds and personal histories, and staff understood how to support people in a way that respected their individuality.

Staff knew people well and tailored care to their preferences. People were encouraged to make day-to-day choices about meals, clothing and activities. We observed staff being kind and communicating in a respectful way, which helped people feel valued and understood. One person said, “Oh yeah, they ask me what I want to wear or what I want to do.” Another relative told us, ‘our relative chooses not to be sociable and so stays in their room. That is a shame as there are always activities going on but my relative is happier by themselves’.

People were supported to spend time with family and friends. A range of activities was provided, including both group and one-to-one sessions, as well as social events. Activities were adapted to meet people’s needs and promote social interaction.

The provider promoted people’s independence, choice and control over their care and wellbeing. People were treated as individuals, and care was based on what mattered to them. Bedrooms were personalised, and people appeared comfortable in their environment.

Staff encouraged independence in daily activities. One staff member said, “We always try to support them and encourage independence as much as possible.” Another said, “We encourage people to wash and feed themselves as much as they can and only support them with their consent.”

We observed positive interactions where staff took time to promote independence and choice. Staff offered choices, such as what people wanted to eat or drink, and supported them to wear personal items that were important to them.

People were supported to maintain relationships. Families and friends could visit freely, and staff were welcoming, offering refreshments and supporting meaningful contact.

The provider listened to people’s needs, views and wishes. Staff responded quickly and appropriately to reduce any discomfort or distress.

Call bells were answered promptly and were kept within people’s reach. One person said, “The staff are quick when I press the call bell.” Staff knew how to respond in emergencies or if someone’s condition changed, and we saw evidence of contact with GPs and emergency services when needed.

Staff supported people well when they became distressed and offered reassurance. Care plans described behaviours, possible triggers and the support needed to reduce anxiety. These were regularly reviewed and updated to reflect people’s changing needs.Staff were observant and anticipated people’s needs, showing they knew people well.

The provider promoted staff wellbeing and supported staff to deliver person-centred care.

Staff told us it was a good place to work. They said they felt supported and described the manager as approachable and willing to listen.

Systems were in place to support staff wellbeing and development. Staff had regular supervisions and team meetings to reflect on their work, receive feedback and share ideas. There were also recognition schemes, such as ‘Employee of the Month’ and annual staff awards, with staff involved in nominations.

Staff said the provider was flexible with shifts to support their needs. Staff felt they received enough training to do their role well and felt their views were listened to. They also had access to support for their wellbeing, including confidential services.