• Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Branston Court Care Home

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Branston Road, Branston, Burton On Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 3DB (01283) 510088

Provided and run by:
Bupa Care Homes (CFChomes) Limited

Important: The provider of this service changed. See new profile

All Inspections

6 January 2016

During a routine inspection

We inspected this service on 6 January 2016. The inspection was unannounced. At our previous inspection in November 2013, the service was meeting the regulations that we checked. The service provides accommodation and nursing care for up to 45 older people living with dementia. There were 43 people living at the home on the day of our inspection.

There was a registered manager in post. 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.

Although the provider determined the staffing levels on an assessment of people’s needs, they had not taken into consideration the additional level of support people needed at specific times of the day. For example at meal times. This led to insufficient staff being available to meet people’s individual needs. The environment did not offer sufficient orientation and memory objects to support people’s memories and reduce confusion .Staff were knowledgeable about people’s care and support and understood what constituted abuse or poor practice and processes were in place to protect people from the risk of harm. Systems were in place and followed so that medicines were managed safely and people were given their medicine as and when needed. The provider had undertaken thorough recruitment checks to ensure the staff employed were suitable to support people.

Staff received training to meet the needs of people. Staff received supervision, to support and develop their skills. The registered manager understood their responsibility to comply with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Where people lacked capacity in certain areas, capacity assessments had been completed to show how people were supported to make those decisions. Applications had been made for DoLS in line with legislation. People received food and drink that met their nutritional needs and were referred to healthcare professionals to maintain their health and wellbeing.

Staff were caring in their approach and had a good understanding of people’s likes, dislikes and preferences. Staff supported people to maintain their dignity. People were supported to maintain and develop their social interests. People felt confident that they could raise any concerns with the registered manager. There were processes in place for people and their relatives to express their views and opinions about the service provided. There were systems in place to monitor the quality of the service to enable the registered manager and provider to drive improvement.

12 November 2013

During a routine inspection

Systems were in place to gain consent for care and treatment from people using the service. The staff respected people's decisions and understood their responsibilities to ensure people could make informed decisions.

Staff had a good knowledge of people's support needs and we saw they were respectful to people when providing this support. People were relaxed with staff and one person told us, 'We can have a laugh with the staff and tell them what we think. They're very good at listening.'

People using the service had care records which recorded how they wanted to be supported. Information was reviewed to ensure the information matched any identified risk or changes to people's care.

The staffing was organised to meet the needs of people using the service.

The provider had systems in place to ensure people could raise concerns and improve the quality of the care received. Complaints were responded to and people were able to voice their opinions.

13 November 2012

During a routine inspection

We carried out this inspection to check on the care and welfare of people using this service. The inspection was unannounced which meant the provider and the staff did not know we were coming. This was part of our schedule of planned inspections.

Some people using the service had special communication needs and used a combination of words and sounds to express themselves. Where people were not able to express their views to us, we observed interaction between people and staff. We saw staff provided sensitive support and people were treated with respect. Personal care issues were discussed sensitively and discreetly. One relative we spoke with told us, 'I can't fault the staff. They treat people properly and nothing is too much trouble.'

We saw people were dressed in their own style and they told us if they needed support, the staff would help them to continue to take a pride in their appearance. One relative said, 'The staff always make sure my mum looks nice. She always dressed well and it's nice to see her still looking good.'

Staff told us they enjoyed working at the home and checks were made to ensure they were fit to do their job. Staff felt they worked well as a team and supported each other in order to do a good job.

Medication was not always recorded correctly to demonstrate the quantity of medicines in the service and how these had been administered. This meant people could not be confident the records matched what had been prescribed to them.

17 October 2011

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We visited this service in June 2011 and one compliance action and one improvement action were issued. This meant the home needed to improve outcomes for people with regards to medication and develop the plans of care. We carried out this visit to ensure the service had complied with the actions required for the management of medication and review any changes to care planning.

We spoke to three staff members, one visitor and two people who live at Branston Court Nursing Home. We were told care plans had been improved and were now more person centred, staff told us that this supported them with the delivery of care and the information helped them to know more about the person and their life.

Some people who used the service were not able to express their views to us, and we observed interaction between people and staff and how people chose to spend their time. We saw staff supporting people to transfer using a hoist and staff were courteous and talked to people. People were also supported to have a drink and given a choice.

A relative told us they were happy with the care given and staff were available to provide care. They told us staff kept them informed about what was happening in the home and would contact them if anything happened.

People were well presented and able to wear their own clothes and dress in a style of their choosing.

7 June 2011

During a routine inspection

People who use the service and their relatives told us that they were happy with the care support in the home and staff treated them with respect. The staff team were always available and responded promptly to any areas of concern or changes to the support they required. People who use the service and their relatives told us," We've no complaints, we're very happy with support given. They give the best care and we couldn't wish for better,' and 'This is one of the top homes the staff and care is very good.'

People were dressed in their own style and if they needed support, staff helped individuals to apply make-up or to have a manicure; people were encouraged to continue to take a pride in their appearance on a daily basis and through beauty treatment sessions. Staff listened to people and spent time with them, talking and carrying out activities, as well as providing care. A range of daily activities was available and we were told, 'There's always lots of activities here, lots of stimulation.'

Relatives were able to continue to play an active role and support people and provide care. When important things happened people told us that communication was good and told us 'I like being involved and I want to help. The staff here are great and I came here whenever I want, they don't leave me out,' and 'I always know what's happening, they're very good at telling us things.'