Brooke House

Updated 16 October 2018

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 5 and 6 September 2018 and was unannounced.

Before the inspection we asked the provider to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that helps gather information about the service and helps to inform the inspection. We reviewed information we held about the home including previous inspection reports and statutory notifications. A notification is information about an important event which the service is required to send us by law. We also reviewed information contained within the provider’s website.

The inspection was carried out by two inspectors. During the inspection we observed people’s interactions with staff. We spoke with two members of staff, the deputy manager, the Quality Improvement Lead, the Peripatetic (interim) Manager and the Director of Operations. We spoke with three people living at Brooke House. We gained feedback from three people’s relatives.

We reviewed records related to two people including their plans of care and risk assessments. We reviewed other records, including two medication administration records, two staff recruitment files, audits and quality assurance documents, team meeting minutes, policies and procedures, activity plans and meal plans.

Updated 16 October 2018

Brooke House is a ‘care home’. 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. Brooke House provides care and support for younger adults with learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorder.

The service has eight rooms in the main house with an attached flat which can house one additional person. The house is laid out over two floors with shared living space and a kitchen on the ground floor. At the time of the inspection there were four people living in the home and one person living in the flat.

At our last inspection we rated the service as Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

People living at Brooke House were safe from abuse or neglect. Allegations and incidents were reported and investigated appropriately. Steps were taken to ensure only appropriate staff were recruited and there were enough staff to support people’s needs.

The service was clean and well maintained. People were taught about food hygiene to support them in safely managing their own food and cooking.

People’s risks were assessed and support plans were put in place to minimise risks to people while giving them as much freedom as possible. Medicines were managed safely and people could manage their own medication if appropriate.

People were supported by staff who were trained and skilled. Care and support plans were personalised and detailed to meet people’s needs and preferences. People’s independence and individuality was respected and celebrated by staff.

Staff used different methods to communicate with people and wrote care plans in ways people could understand. People’s care and support plans aimed to develop skills and independence to help them meet their goals.

Staff had a good rapport with people and treated people with kindness and respect. Staff knew people well and understood how to support them, their preferences and personal histories.

People and staff spoke highly of the deputy manager and of the quality improvement lead. At the time of the inspection the registered manager had left the previous week. There were good support arrangements in place while the provider recruited a new manager. There were good processes in place to check the quality of the service and there was a clear plan of improvement in place.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.