- Care home
Bramshaw House
Assessment report published 13 October 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
We carried out this assessment on 8 September 2026. The service is a care home. There were 9 people using the service at the time of the assessment.
This service supports people living with a learning disability and autistic people. Some people have complex health, wellbeing and communication needs. The service is fully accessible to support people the needs of people with a physical disability. The service uses a household model of care. People have their own bedrooms and share a kitchen, lounge and dining area. This helps create a familiar home environment where staff can support people in a more personal and flexible way.
This service was previously rated as good. We carried out this assessment to confirm whether the rating of good remains accurate. This report does not provide detailed information on areas where we found practice continues to meet a good standard. Instead, our findings focus on any areas where the service needs to improve or where we found exceptional practice.
We assessed the service in line with CQC’s ‘Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture’ best practice guidance to judge whether people received respectful, dignified, and person-centred care that promoted their independence, choices, and inclusion in the community. The provider was working in line with national best practice guidance for supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people.
People can only be deprived of their liberty to receive care and treatment with appropriate legal authority. In care homes, this can be done through a procedure called the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), which is part of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). We checked whether the service was working within the principles of the MCA and how they managed DoLS within the service. We found staff and management worked within the MCA. DoLS authorisations were appropriately applied for and overseen. People were not subject to unlawful or excessive restrictions they had choice, control and freedom over their lives.
People, their relatives and those important to them told us they were involved in MCA assessments and best interest decisions and there was evidence of this. For example, the decision to fit a Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) tube when a person was unable to swallow safely and maintain sufficient oral intake. Feedback received from a person’s court-appointed representative informed us they felt appropriately involved in decisions about a person’s care. A relative told us that, when their loved one experienced serious health issues, they were involved in best interests’ meetings with staff and medical professionals to discuss and agree the most appropriate way forward. This demonstrated relatives were involved in important decisions about their loved one’s care and treatment.
People received safe, effective and well-planned support that reflected best practice guidance for people with a learning disability and autistic people. People were supported by enough suitably skilled staff, with safe recruitment processes in place. A family member told us, “The selection of good staff seems to be a strong point of the home.” Risks were assessed, managed and reviewed, and people were involved in decisions about their safety. Effective systems were in place for safeguarding, medicines management and environmental safety. Care plans provided clear guidance to staff to support people safely, including how to respond to epileptic seizures and complications associated with PEG and stoma sites, and when to seek medical advice. Staff had received appropriate training to support people’s needs well, including training required to support people with a learning disability.
Systems were in place to assess, monitor and review people’s care and changing needs. People had timely access to healthcare professionals and routine health screening to support their health and wellbeing. Referrals were made promptly when people’s needs changed, including to speech and language therapy (SaLT) for safe eating and drinking and physiotherapy for mobility support. A family member told us the registered manager and staff consistently advocated for their relative during hospital admissions and visits, ensuring they were appropriately supported in what could be stressful situations. They said they were kept informed and involved in decisions about their relative’s care. Another relative told us their loved one’s complex healthcare needs were being met “above and beyond what could perhaps have been expected of a typical care home.” They also highlighted the positive benefits of additional support provided by the district nursing team.
Throughout the inspection, we observed people being treated with dignity and respect. Staff supported people to make choices and decisions about their care and daily lives, while promoting and encouraging their independence. Staff knew people well and understood what was important to them. A relative highlighted the importance of weekly video calls which helped their loved one maintain meaningful contact with their family. Another relative said, “They understand [name’s] needs to the minutest detail. In my experience, every member of staff gives 100% to the person they are caring for, and this shows.”
People received care and support that was responsive to their individual needs, preferences, strengths and aspirations. Staff worked flexibly to enable people to make choices, maintain relationships, pursue their interests and participate in activities that reflected their individual preferences. For example, one person regularly attended Brighton and Hove Albion football matches and told us how much they enjoyed this. Their bedroom reflected their passion for the football team. Staff arranged wheelchair-accessible transport and ensured appropriate stadium access so the person could continue to participate in an activity that was important to them. A relative told us, “The vibe at Bramshaw is very much that it is a home not just a care residence. It has that feel for everyone including the staff.” Another relative said, “I cannot thank the team enough for what they do for [name].”
Staff felt valued, respected and supported by management and described a positive and inclusive culture. Comments included, “There is excellent team work here.” And “The manager is amazing and very supportive.” A relative told us, “The registered managers selection of staff is excellent, leading to a wonderful caring group, who treat the residents as if they were part of their own family.” Governance systems were effective in monitoring quality and driving improvements. Audits identified issues promptly and leaders took action to address concerns and monitor progress. Records were accurate, up to date and used to enhance service delivery. The provider worked collaboratively across teams and services to ensure seamless care, with effective information sharing. The registered manager promoted openness and continuous improvement. There were opportunities for staff, residents and families to feedback and be involved in shaping and developing the service. Throughout the inspection we received consistent support and praise for the registered manager from people, visitors and staff. A relative told us, “We felt very fortunate to find Bramshaw and instantly got a good feeling of warmth and openness from everyone we encountered.” Another said, “A care home is as good as its manager, and we can only sing her praises and hope she never retires.”
People's experience of this service
People were at the heart of the service and were supported to make choices, pursue their interests and aspirations, and live their lives in ways that were meaningful to them. People’s wishes, preferences and choices were reflected in their care plans, which provided staff with clear guidance about how people wanted to be supported and what helped them to have positive experiences. For example, a person’s support to reduce anxiety included ensuring they had access to a portable DVD player during medical appointments.
People were supported to maintain their health and wellbeing, with timely access to healthcare and support tailored to their abilities and communication needs. A relative told us staff had “gone above and beyond” to support their loved one’s person-centred recovery following a significant illness. We saw a person use a ‘thumbs up’ to indicate they were ready to practise with their mobility walker. Another person was encouraged to complete physiotherapy exercises using their preferences, including coffee and cake as motivation. The physiotherapist told us the person’s mobility had significantly improved as a result.
People told us they felt safe, valued and involved in decisions about their care. One person said, “We choose what to do,” and told us they had chosen to visit Harry Potter World. Another person told us they had chosen the décor for their recently decorated bedroom. When asked if they felt safe at the home and with staff, a person gave us a ‘thumbs up’.
People were supported to maintain active social lives and participate in their local communities. They enjoyed local cafés, clubs, sports events and social gatherings. One person said they enjoyed riding their adapted bicycle along the seafront, while another regularly attended a local swimming club. A relative told us staff had an “amazing understanding” of people’s needs and preferences and “work with them to achieve their goals.”
People chose holidays and how to spend special occasions. These included days at theme parks, concerts and London shows. During the inspection a person told us they had chosen to spend their birthday the following day at Butlins, selecting both the staff they wanted to support them and a friend to share the experience with. We spent time with the person at Butlins and saw staff supporting them to make their own choices about activities, entertainment, drinks and restaurants. The person told us they had enjoyed swimming, and we saw them laughing and clapping along to an acrobatic show. They told us, “I am having the best birthday.” Their enjoyment and engagement throughout the day demonstrated the positive impact of good support that reflected their individual wishes and choices.
People had access to communication methods tailored to their individual needs. Some people used mobile phones to send and receive voice messages and video calls. Another person used an electronic communication aid operated by head movement to communicate with family, friends and staff. One person demonstrated a personalised electronic pictorial communication system which enabled them to ask questions of the inspection team. Staff had received specific training to support effective communication using this system. Pictorial communication was used throughout the service to enable people to express their views, provide feedback and raise concerns.
People were supported to make their environment feel like home. Bedrooms were personalised to reflect people’s individual interests, lives and preferences, and consideration was given to providing equipment and technology to promote independence and support health and wellbeing. This included access to laptops and televisions when people were in bed, call bell systems and voice-activated technology. Throughout the care home we saw personalised memorabilia and ornaments that reflected people’s interests, lives and personalities.
Throughout the inspection, we observed warm, positive and respectful interactions between staff and people. Staff knew people well, understood what was important to them and took time to engage with them in a friendly and meaningful way. It was clear that staff were important to the people they supported.
Feedback from relatives about the care home was consistently positive. Comments included, “This is home for the residents and not just a home with residents.” And “Bramshaw is a very homely environment for everyone that lives there, they are one big family.” Another relative said their loved one was “Content, happy, and as healthy as he can be and that is a credit to [registered manager] and all the staff at Bramshaw.”