Briercliffe Lodge

Updated 19 February 2019

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection was conducted on 31 January and 1 February 2019.

Inspection team: This inspection was conducted by one adult social care inspector.

On the first day of the inspection the inspector visited the home and saw the office, communal areas, bedrooms and bathroom facilities. On the second day, the same inspector contacted relatives and healthcare professionals by telephone to seek their feedback on their experience of the service.

Service and service type: The service was a care home without nursing. At the time of the inspection 16 people were living at the service.

The service had two managers registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection: The first day of the inspection was unannounced.

What we did: Our plan took into account information the provider sent us since the last inspection. We also considered information about matters the provider must notify us about, such as events involving injury. We obtained information from the local authority commissioners and safeguarding team and other professionals who work with the service. We also looked at the Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection, we spoke with three people who use the service, three relatives and two healthcare professionals about their experience of the care provided.

We spoke with both registered managers and three care staff members.

We looked at four people's care records and a selection of medicines and medicines administration records (MARs). We looked at other records including quality monitoring records, six staff recruitment records, training records and records of checks carried out on the premises and equipment.

Details are in the key questions below.

Updated 19 February 2019

Briercliffe Lodge is a care home without nursing care that can accommodate up to 17 people. It is registered to provide personal and residential care and 16 people were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

Briercliffe Lodge is situated in the town of Barnoldswick in Lancashire close to the Yorkshire border.

People's experience of using this service:

• The service met the characteristics of 'Good' in all of the five key questions.

• Staff were recruited safely but we noted in some cases there was a need to improve some pre-recruitment checks.

• The service was following the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and associated Codes of Practice.

• Risks to people's health and safety were safely managed.

• Care records were up to date and reflected people's health care needs.

• People who used the service and their relatives told us that people were looked after and that they were happy with the care and support that was provided.

• People were protected against abuse, neglect and discrimination through good safeguarding processes.

• Staff we spoke with were positive about their roles and wanted to do the best for people.

• Staff we spoke with knew people well. They had developed good relationships with people.

• People who used the service clearly enjoyed the presence and attention from staff.

• There was a range of appropriate activities for people to participate.

• Management checks and audits were effective but some improvement was required around the checking of employment records to ensure that people were safely recruited.

• More information is contained in the full report.

Rating at last inspection: At our last inspection the service was rated good overall. Our last report was published on 10 May 2016.

Why we inspected: This inspection was part of our scheduled plan of visiting services to check the safety and quality of care people received.