• Care Home
  • Care home

Brookfield

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Little Bury, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX4 7UY (01865) 779888

Provided and run by:
Methodist Homes

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

Assessment report published 25 September 2025

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Well-led

Requires improvement

15 August 2025

Well-led – this means we looked for evidence that service leadership, management and governance assured high-quality, person-centred care; supported learning and innovation; and promoted an open, fair culture.

The provider did not always have a clear shared vision, strategy and culture which was based on transparency, equity, equality and human rights, diversity and inclusion, and engagement. They did not always understand the challenges and the needs of people and their communities.

At our last assessment we rated this key question Good. At this assessment the rating has changed to Requires Improvement.

The service was in breach of legal regulation in relation to governance at the service, as audits failed to identify our concerns relating to risks to people’s care and support and the accuracy of information contained in people’s care plans.

This service scored 62 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

Shared direction and culture

Score: 3

The provider had a shared vision, strategy and culture. This was based on transparency, equity, equality and human rights, diversity and inclusion, engagement, and understanding challenges and the needs of people and their communities.

The service had a positive culture demonstrated by staff and leaders who were passionate and innovative in ensuring there was a shared vision and strategy on delivering high quality care. Staff told us how they enjoyed working at the service. One staff member said, “I love it here, I have a brilliant job.” Another said, “I just love my job, residents [people] are lovely, and we have a great team.”

Capable, compassionate and inclusive leaders

Score: 3

The provider had inclusive leaders at all levels who understood the context in which they delivered care, treatment and support and embodied the culture and values of their workforce and organisation. Leaders had the skills, knowledge, experience and credibility to lead effectively. They did so with integrity, openness and honesty.

Staff consistently told us how they felt supported in their roles and how they found the manager approachable, open, and honest. Staff told us the communication systems and team working within the service were robust and effective. Staff told us, “We have briefing and meetings to keep us briefed and up to date, so I feel informed” and “Communication is good here, we have a good staff team.”

Freedom to speak up

Score: 3

The provider fostered a positive culture where people felt they could speak up and their voice would be heard. Policies were in place to support this culture.

Regular meetings were held with staff, including supervision, handovers, and briefings. Staff told us they felt confident in speaking up to raise issues or concerns. One staff member said, “We can speak out and we are listened too.”

Workforce equality, diversity and inclusion

Score: 3

The provider valued diversity in their workforce. They worked towards an inclusive and fair culture by improving equality and equity for people who worked for them.

The manager demonstrated how they valued staff by working closely with them to understand staff’s individual needs and by making reasonable adjustments to accommodate and support them in their work.Staff told us where adjustments were made to their working week to support them. One staff member said, “If I have a problem with working, I talk to the manager, and it gets sorted out.”

Governance, management and sustainability

Score: 1

The provider did not always have good governance. They did not always act on the best information about risk, performance and outcomes.

There was a range of checks and audits to monitor the quality and safety of the service and to help drive improvements. These included checks on risks to people, care plan reviews, spot checks and medicines. However, these systems were not always effective. Audits failed to identify our concerns relating to risks to people’s care and support and the accuracy of information contained in people’s care plans. For example, our concerns relating epilepsy and diabetes risk assessments.

 

Partnerships and communities

Score: 3

The provider understood their duty to collaborate and work in partnership, so services worked seamlessly for people. They shared information and learning with partners and collaborated for improvement.

The provider had built links with community services and healthcare services such as GPs, physiotherapist, dentist, podiatrist and optician, as needed. The registered manager told us, “We understand our duty to collaborate and work in partnership with professionals and the local authority. We share information and learning with partners and collaborate for improvement.”

Records confirmed the manager was working closely with the local authority through meetings and action plans to improve the service[.

 

Learning, improvement and innovation

Score: 3

The provider focused on continuous learning, innovation and improvement across the organisation and local system. They encouraged creative ways of delivering equality of experience, outcome and quality of life for people. They actively contributed to safe, effective practice and research.

The service documented learning within incidents and accidents and took direct action to support people and keep them safe. Staff felt they received feedback about incidents in a timely manner.

Comments from residents’ meetings and surveys were used to improve the service, the ‘You said, we did’ action plan displayed for people to see. The registered manager said, “I believe we foster a positive learning culture at Brookfield, and I view this inspection as an opportunity to learn and improve this home for our residents.”