Brocklehurst Nursing Home

Updated 16 June 2023

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection, we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

Two inspectors and an Expert by Experience carried out this inspection. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Brocklehurst Nursing Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Brocklehurst Nursing Home is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations. At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England.

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 7 people who used the service and 5 relatives about their experience of the care provided at Brocklehurst. We spoke with 14 members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, area manager, clinical lead, assistant nurse practitioner, care assistants, domestic staff and assistant chef. We also spoke with 1 visiting professional.

We reviewed a range of records, including 7 people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including quality assurance and incident reports.

We observed the support provided throughout our inspection and viewed the environment of the home.

Updated 16 June 2023

About the service

Brocklehurst Nursing Home is a nursing home providing personal and nursing care to up to 43 people. The service provides support to older people, some of whom are living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 41 people using the service.

The home consists of four units across two floors. Each unit has its own kitchenette and small lounge. The ground floor has a large lounge and a dining area.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People received their medicines as prescribed. We have made a recommendation about guidance for as required medicines and topical creams. Some communal areas of the home were not always clean. We have made a recommendation to review the cleaning schedules.

Parts of the home were looking tired. A refurbishment plan was in place. We have made a recommendation that the plan is completed in a timely way.

People felt safe living at the home. Risks were identified and guidance was in place to manage them. An improvement plan was in place to ensure enough detail was included in the care plans.

There were enough staff to meet people’s needs. Staff were busy and did not have much time to sit with people. A dependency tool was used to calculate the staffing levels needed. Additional night staff had been recruited to reduce the use of agency staff. Staff were safely recruited and received the training for their roles.

Staff said the management team were visible in the home and approachable if they needed to speak with them. People’s health, nutritional and hydration needs were being met. Referrals were made to medical professionals when required.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

A quality assurance system was in place. Regular audits were undertaken, and any actions identified completed. The provider had oversight of the service through monthly provider audits. Relatives said there was good communication with the staff team and any concerns they had were addressed. Staff said they enjoyed working at Brocklehurst.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 15 January 2019).

Why we inspected

We received concerns in relation to staffing levels and staff training. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe, effective and well-led only.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has remained good based on the findings of this inspection.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the safe, effective and well led sections of this full report. Additional night staff had been recruited to reduce the reliance on agency staff.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Brocklehurst Nursing Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.