Archived: Ecton Brook House

Below is a summary of what we found. The detailed evidence supporting our summary can be read in our full report.

Is the service safe?

We found that risk assessments identified individual risks to people's health, safety or welfare. The staff received appropriate training to ensure they had the skills and knowledge to meet people's needs.

Is the service effective?

Effective systems were in place to monitor the management of the service. People's care plans and risk assessments were regularly reviewed and updated as and when their needs changed.

Is the service caring?

We saw that staff treated people with respect and their dignity was maintained. One person said 'This is my home, the staff know me very well, I know they care'. Another person said 'We have a laugh and a joke with the staff, you can just be yourself'. A relative said 'The staff have made my father welcome, it's good they want to get to know him well'.

Is the service responsive?

We saw that meetings took place with people using the service to listen to their views and the provider took action to address people's suggestions for improvements. We saw that people's health was closely monitored and appropriate action was taken in seeking the advice and guidance of health and social care professionals.

Is the service well-led?

We saw that the registered manager operated an 'open door' policy and staff received appropriate support in order for them to do their jobs effectively. We also saw that the provider regularly met with people using the service and relatives to discuss how Ecton Brook House was meeting people's needs.

We also saw that the staff endeavoured to work at a relaxed pace and they responded to people with warmth and affection.

We looked at the care records for two people using the service and found that their care and support needs were recorded in their care plans. However we had concerns that the instructions within the care plans were not always being followed. For example, people's nutritional and personal care needs were not being provided in line with their assessed needs.

We saw that regular quality monitoring checks were carried out on all aspects of the service delivery. We also saw that people using the service, relatives and staff were regularly asked to provide feedback on the quality of service delivery.

We found that people's care records did not always include appropriate information and documentation in relation to their care and treatment. Also they were not always signed by the staff, the person using the service or their representatives.

The registered manager sent us an action plan which set out the actions they were going to take to improve the service. We contacted the registered manager in January 2013 to establish if they had completed the actions that they had included in their action plan. They told us they had taken the following action to improve their quality monitoring systems.

We were told that monthly quality audits were being carried out by the registered manager, to check the care plans and risk assessments for people who used the service. We were told that in addition quality audits were carried out regularly by a representative from the companies' quality and performance team and the divisional manager.

The people we spoke with told us they were pleased with the care and the support they received. One person said 'the staff are very caring' another person said 'I enjoy having a laugh with the staff'. They told us they were able make choices about their food, routines and how to spend their time. They told us that there were activities going on in the home that they could join in with if they wanted to.

The people we spoke with told us they were well looked after at Ecton Brook House, they told us the staff knew their care and support needs. However we found evidence which did not support this view.

The people told us they felt safe at Ecton Brook House and knew who to speak with if they had any concerns about their safety.