1 March 2018
During a routine inspection
Bracken 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. Bracken House is a two storey building within a residential area and is registered to provide personal care for up to 30 people who are living with dementia. There were 29 people living in the home at the time 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.
There was a strong management team. Staff showed commitment and were keen to provide people and relatives with a care experience that met and exceeded their expectations. The registered manager encouraged staff to be collaborative and imaginative in the way they provided care which recognised that people were at the heart of their service.
People and their families contributed to their care planning and the elements which were most important to them were identified. Staff knew people well and reviewed their needs regularly to ensure the care they were provided with met their requirements.
People benefitted from activities provided by staff which were innovative and introduced people to new experiences, such as the use of information technology. Staff understood the importance of providing people living with dementia opportunities to reminisce and provided them with calming support when they felt unsettled. People’s spiritual needs were identified and there were arrangements in place to support them with their chosen faith.
People were protected from harm. Staff knew how to recognise abuse and the actions they must take to ensure people remained safe. People’s risks were identified. Their care plans and the support they received reflected the most appropriate management of them. Staffing levels were reviewed regularly as people’s needs changed to ensure there were sufficient staff to care for them. Recruitment processes ensured that staff completed the necessary screening before they were able to work with people.
Medicines were managed safely. There were checks in place to monitor staff competency and the accuracy of medicines ordering, storage and administration. Staff followed infection control best practice and had training in food hygiene to protect people.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.
Staff understood the importance of gaining consent from people and the actions they should take when people were unable to make decisions for themselves. Staff had access to training and support to improve their knowledge of care and enhance their skills. People were provided with a choice of nutritious food and plentiful drinks. Staff supported people to retain their independence and when support was required it was provided in a kind and reassuring manner which maintained people’s privacy and dignity. Healthcare professionals were consulted when people needed additional support and staff implemented the recommendations they received.
The registered manager listened to people’s opinions and took action to implement any improvements they highlighted. There was a complaints policy in place and people were encouraged to share their concerns. Audits and checks were in place to monitor the quality of the service and make improvements where needed. The registered manager was fulfilling the requirements of their registration with us.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.