Brampton Lodge

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

Safe – this means we looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. At our last assessment we rated this key question requires improvement. At this assessment, the rating has changed to good. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.

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.

Brampton Lodge demonstrated a proactive and positive culture of safety, grounded in openness and honesty. Staff were encouraged to raise safety concerns, which were thoroughly investigated and reported. Lessons learned from incidents were consistently identified and embedded to improve practice. Robust analysis of incidents helped to determine root causes, with findings shared transparently with staff to prevent recurrence. Relatives told us they felt confident to raise complaints, assured appropriate action would be taken and improvements made. One relative told us, “I don’t have any concerns now. I did 18 months ago but there have been lots of improvements and I’m now happy with the home.”

The home responded quickly and appropriately to concerns, working closely with safeguarding and quality assurance teams. A professional partner commented, “Brampton Lodge has been able to share learning following incidents, and this is evident during service visits where we see the changes in practice.”

Staff feedback was generally positive, and most staff told us they felt able to voice concerns. Comments included, “At the moment I have no concerns, but I will voice things straight away,” and “Managers are approachable, and I feel able to speak up.” However, one staff member felt there were limited opportunities to express concerns due to a lack of meetings. We fed this back to the management team who assured us this would be explored.

Brampton Lodge worked collaboratively with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, ensuring safety is effectively managed and monitored. Continuity of care was maintained, including when people moved between different services. Care and support plans were regularly reviewed and kept up to date, reflecting people’s current needs. This ensured staff can provide accurate and timely information to healthcare professionals when required. Staff demonstrated a strong understanding of individuals’ unique needs and preferences and reported receiving the necessary information about people before commencing care.

Care planning and transitions were underpinned by effective staff knowledge and communication. Staff explained involvement varies across roles, with care assistants contributing through verbal reports of changes and nurses managing formal handovers. Comments included, “Everyone is involved to a certain extent. Care assistants are involved through verbal reporting of changes,” and “We will notify the nurse of any changes and hand it over.” However, one staff member raised concerns regarding communication gaps, particularly in handover processes, “I am concerned about the lack of handovers. Everyone should be informed regardless of job level.” We fed this concern back to the management team who assured us this would be considered.

Partner agencies praised Brampton Lodge’s proactive approach to referrals and implementing recommendations. One partner told us, “We have worked with Brampton Lodge in relation to all recommendations and they have implemented the required changes in a timely manner."

Brampton Lodge worked closely with people and healthcare partners to understand what safety means to them and how best to achieve it. Staff focused on enhancing people’s lives while protecting their right to live free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm, and neglect.

Concerns were shared promptly and appropriately. Robust procedures were in place to identify and address safeguarding issues, enabling timely action. The home maintained a strong system for monitoring accidents and incidents, which included detailed action plans and opportunities for learning.

All staff had completed safeguarding training and demonstrated a clear understanding of what to look out for and how to escalate concerns. Staff knew their responsibilities in keeping people safe and felt supported in raising any issues. Comments from staff included, “We do [safeguarding training] annually covering adults and children. I gained a better understanding and confidence in reporting any issues,” “Yes, I have completed safeguarding training. I learned how I can spot signs of abuse and neglect, manage the situation properly and the importance of reporting incident correctly,” and “There is always an opportunity to talk to lead staff and management during the day on issues.”

Partner agencies confirmed the Brampton Lodge consistently followed correct protocols for reporting safeguarding concerns and escalations.

People we spoke with expressed feeling safe. While most feedback was positive, one person did raise a concern about call bell response times, saying, “I wait a while for someone to come.” Relatives consistently reported their loved ones were safe, well cared for, and effective safety measures were in place.

Brampton Lodge worked collaboratively with people to understand and manage risks. Care was delivered safely and supportively, enabling people to engage in activities that mattered to them. Staff consistently supported people in managing risks related to their health and well-being.

Risk assessments were personalised and regularly reviewed, with clear plans and strategies in place to reduce identified risks. Staff described actively supporting people to make informed choices about risk, acknowledging that risks and people’s views can fluctuate. One staff member said, “Risk fluctuates. People's views can change. Risk assessments are reviewed regularly.”

Care planning was person-centred and responsive to changes. Staff noted, “If we find something has changed, we can ask for it to be added [to care plans].” However, some concerns were raised about the accessibility and timely updating of care plans, particularly during busy shifts. Despite these challenges, evidence showed a strong effort to manage risks in a way that respects each person’s independence while also keeping them safe." Staff effectively involved people in discussions about changes to care plans and risk assessments. One staff member highlighted the ongoing nature of this work: “It is important to remember it [involving people to manage risk] is always ongoing.”

Care plans addressed specific health needs, such as the use of pressure-relieving equipment for those at risk of pressure sores and mobility aids to prevent falls. While some staff expressed concerns about care plan access during busy periods, most relatives felt both people and their families were listened to, and staff acted on preferences and concerns. The provider also promoted positive risk-taking to support independence, for example the “Wish Initiative,” which encourages proportionate risk management to stay in control of their own choices whilst ensuring safety.

Brampton Lodge effectively identified and managed potential risks within the care environment to ensure safety. Equipment, facilities, and technology were maintained to support the delivery of safe care. Although the environment was generally clean and secure, some maintenance issues were noted during the inspection, such as slip hazards, unclean bathrooms, and broken equipment. These were isolated examples and had already been promptly logged by the deputy manager, and we observed staff were actively addressing them. They demonstrated good awareness of environmental risks and took a proactive approach to resolving issues as they arose, such as cleaning up a spillage in the communal lounge. Staff received regular training, and competency checks on fire safety and related procedures. Relatives consistently described the environment as clean, secure, and well-staffed. They told us safety measures, including keypad entry systems and environmental adaptations, contributed to a strong sense of security among people and their families.

Brampton Lodge ensured there were enough qualified, skilled, and experienced staff who received effective support, supervision, and development. Staff worked collaboratively to deliver safe care tailored to people’s individual needs. Recruitment processes were thorough, with appropriate background checks completed before employment. New staff completed inductions and ongoing training to equip them for their roles. While some staff reported regular supervision, others described supervision as “infrequent.” However, since the arrival of the new Home Manager and Deputy Manager, a more consistent and structured supervision programme has been introduced, leading to improvements in staff support.

Some staff we spoke with highlighted staffing levels as a challenge and described working under pressure. However, most staff also noted positive changes, with comments such as, “A while ago it [staffing levels] was very bad, it has improved” and “It’s [staffing levels] getting better.” People receiving care acknowledged staff commitment. We observed, sufficient staff numbers on duty to provide effective care and support.

We saw compliance with mandatory staff training was well maintained. A professional partner praised the provider’s training approach: “Brampton Lodge has a robust training policy in place, and they can resource bespoke training where needed. This is reflective within the practices that have been visible.” Some staff expressed concerns about an over-reliance on e-learning, noting a lack of face-to-face or scenario-based training in complex care areas such as epilepsy

speech, and language therapy (SALT), and behaviour management. In response, the home had developed a dedicated training space aimed at enhancing the delivery of practical and complex training. One staff member commented, “I have had good mandatory training, and I look forward to more practical training.”

Relatives consistently reported staff appeared confident, competent, and familiar with people’s needs, though some noted that agency staff occasionally led to inconsistencies. Feedback included, “They care for [Name] well and manage [Name]’s condition well. [Name] looks amazing now,” and “I feel the staff know what they are doing and treat [Name] well.”

Brampton Lodge effectively assessed and managed the risk of infection, implementing measures to detect and control its spread. Concerns were promptly shared with appropriate agencies as required. Staff received training in infection prevention and control, and we observed they consistently wore appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when supporting people. Staff demonstrated a clear understanding of PPE protocols and infection control practices. One staff member said, “I make sure to wash my hands, wear complete PPE, clean equipment and stay updated on infection control guideline.”

Our observations confirmed the home, including peoples’ bedrooms and communal areas, was generally clean, well-maintained, and free from malodours. The home maintained robust systems for infection risk assessment, including regular audits and checks to identify areas for improvement. Managers acted swiftly to address any issues identified.

Relatives consistently praised the cleanliness of the home, expressing confidence in the hygiene practices and environment. Feedback included comments such as, “The home is clean, and they regularly clean [Name]’s room,” “[Name]’s room always looks clean and tidy, and they put everything away and their bed is always made,” and “The home is lovely and clean.”

Brampton Lodge ensured medicines and treatments were managed safely and effectively, tailored to meet people’s individual needs, capacities, and preferences. Staff actively involved people in medication planning, including when any changes occurred. We observed medicines were administered by trained and competent staff who followed safe procedures. Robust systems were in place to ensure medicines were ordered, stored, and handled appropriately and securely. Regular reviews of prescribed medicines were conducted by senior staff to confirm they continued to meet each person’s needs. When necessary, staff involved relevant healthcare professionals to support optimal medication management.