Archived: Branksome House

Updated 26 April 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 was planned to check 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 took place on 6 March 2019 and was unannounced. We visited people in their own homes on 11 March 2019 and visited the care home again, announced on the 13 March 2019. One inspector carried out the inspection. We spoke with four people using the service, three of the registered managers and five members of staff. In addition, we reviewed records for five people using the service, toured the premises of the care home and examined records relating to staff training, recruitment and the management of the service.

Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also reviewed information we have about the service including notifications. A notification is a report about important events which the service is required to send us by law. We also received views about the service from two healthcare professionals.

Updated 26 April 2019

This inspection took place on 6, 11 and 13 March 2019 and was unannounced.

Branksome House is a care home for up to nine people with a learning disability, autistic spectrum disorder or mental health problems. 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. There were seven people living in the home at the time of our inspection.

Branksome House also provides staff to support people with their personal care who live in shared accommodation or in their own homes. This includes five ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live in their own home as independently as possible. These include shared toilet and bathroom facilities, lounges and staff offices/sleeping rooms. The service was supporting ten people with the regulated activity in shared accommodation at the time of our inspection. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

Not everyone using Branksome House receives regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided.

Following the last inspection, we met with the provider to confirm what they would do and by when to improve the key questions of Safe and Well-Led to at least good.

At this inspection we found improvements to how risks to people’s safety were managed such as choking and environmental risks. Improvements had been made to quality monitoring systems. These were now effective in identifying areas for improvement action such as maintenance issues. Staff recruitment procedures had also improved.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

Branksome House had four registered managers 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.

People received support from caring staff who respected their privacy, dignity and the importance of independence. 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 supported this practice. People received personalised care and had opportunities to take part in activities both in their accommodation and in the wider community. People were supported to maintain contact with their relatives.

People were protected from harm and abuse through the knowledge of staff and management. Sufficient staffing levels were maintained and staff were supported through training and meetings to maintain their skills and knowledge to support people. There were arrangements in place for people and their representatives to raise concerns about the service.