The Care Quality Commission

Archived: Briar Court Nursing Home

59 Hutton Avenue, Hartlepool, Cleveland, TS26 9PW (01429) 224442

Provided and run by:
Castlebeck Care (Teesdale) Limited

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

All Inspections

17 July 2013

During a routine inspection

We spoke with three of the six people who lived in Briar Court. Most of these people had difficulty expressing their views about the service so we observed how their care was being delivered and their response to the interactions of the staff. One person told us that they found the staff were very competent and really understood how to assist them. They felt the move to the home had been very positive and led to them experiencing a more independent life. They said, 'The staff are wonderful and make sure I get the best care . Since you were last here some people have moved out and now we have more staff. There are more nurses which is really good and all the staff, as well as us, are happier'.

We found that although the numbers of people living at the home had reduced the provider had not reduced staffing levels and had employed more nurses, including a clinical nurse manager. The manager had ensured staff were used to the best effect.

We saw that staff had a very good rapport with the people who used the service; were extremely empathetic; treated people with humanity and respect; and included in everyone in friendly banter. Staff were very focused on assisting each person to live an ordinary life.

Since the last inspection the manager and regional manager had taken action to make sure staff applied the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Theh They had significantly improved records and these were now extremely informative and comprehensive.

6, 7 March 2013

During an inspection in response to concerns

We spoke with nine of the 12 people who lived in Briar Court. Some of the people had difficulty expressing their views about the service so we spent most of our visit observing how their care was delivered. People told us that they found the staff were all helpful and staff knew how to assist them to lead independent lives.

We found that the nursing and care staff were adept at working in ways that supported and assisted each person. We saw that staff had a very good rapport with the people who used the service and everyone was included in friendly banter. Staff were able to reduce people's anxiety and intervened appropriately when individuals got upset. We found that staff were very focused on meeting the needs of the people and assisting each person to live an ordinary life.

People we spoke with told us, 'I find the staff are excellent at their job and they know how to help me develop the skills I need to move on,', 'I like it here and provides all the support I need', 'I don't think I would be moving to my own place if I hadn't come here' and 'Staff are helping me to learn how to budget, cook and keep my house right'. The people also said that over the last year there had been a lot of changes in the staff team and they had found this unsettling but they felt all of the new staff were competent.

We found that staff needed to have a better understanding of the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Also the majority of records needed to be improved.

27 June 2012

During a routine inspection

During the visit, we spoke with seven people who used the service. As this was a routine visit we asked people about the choices on offer; what the care was like; and what people thought about the staff. People told us that they really liked living at the home, thought the staff were good at their jobs and felt they could lead fairly independent lives. People said 'I like it here, the staff are excellent and I can get to do lots of things', 'The staff are very easy to talk to and always help me out', 'It has been great living here, as I met my partner and staff have helped us get our own place'. One person said 'I feel happy to say stuff, as I told the manager I found one of the staff was difficult to talk to and he really listened to me and has done something about it'. We checked what actions were being taken about this person's concerns with the senior staff and manager. We found that the issue had been picked up very quickly and appropriate steps were being taken to resolve the matter.

All seven people told us that the service was run well and that the manager was very committed to making sure everything operated smoothly. We were told that work had been completed to make a separate unit for people who were more independent and the people who spoke to us from this unit were very pleased with how it had been set up. People said that they felt that the staff were competent and supportive and; 'The staff are great, it's like one big family', 'Staff go out of their way to help me deal with things' and 'The staff sit down with me and go through my plans to see how what needs to be done'.

21 December 2011

During an inspection looking at part of the service

The visit took place because we were following up concerns we had raised during the last inspections in July 2011. Therefore, when talking with people we concentrated on the specific areas that had been raised.

We spoke to one person who self administered medicines under the supervision of staff. They said they were very happy with how they took their medicines and showed us the new medicines cabinet in the annex building.

Although we spoke to people in general, we did not gather evidence in relation to the other outcomes that we reviewd at this inspection visit.

13 June 2011

During an inspection in response to concerns

People who use the service said they were happy with life at Briar Court. They had individual activity and support programmes which they had helped to design. They felt they were consulted about all important matters. They could make choices in their daily lives. They got on well with each other including the staff. They described fulfilling lives in which their independence, dignity and privacy were respected and promoted. These qualities were apparent in their chosen activity programmes, which included college, work and leisure pursuits. They liked their bedrooms which were spacious, personalised and well equipped, with en-suite facilities. They said they could talk to staff about any concerns they might have and were confident that they would be dealt with fairly and appropriately. Everyone had plans for the future and shared some of those with us. Some people talked about holiday plans and others about the next stages in their lives, which might mean a positive choice to move on from Briar Court to more independent living. People presented as confident and aspirational in their outlook.