Brownhill Care Limited

Updated 21 May 2022

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.

As part of CQC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 28 February and 3 March 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours notice of the inspection.

Updated 21 May 2022

About the service:

• Brownhill Care Limited is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

• This service provides rehabilitation and support to people with mental health care needs. Approximately half the people using the service also have a mild learning disability and behaviours that might be considered challenging. The service specialises in helping adults with mental health care needs develop the necessary independent living skills to ‘step down’ and live in accommodation where they will need ‘less support’. The service is registered to support 14 people in two seven bedded adapted houses that are connected via an internal door. At the time of our inspection 14 people were using this rehabilitation service.

People’s experience of using this service:

• At this inspection the evidence we found continued to support the overall rating of ‘Good’.

• People were supported to take their prescribed medicines safely and when they should.

• However, although the service ensured people received their prescribed medicines as intended, which included more general ‘as required’ medicines; staff did not have easy access to sufficiently detailed guidance about when and how to use ‘as required’ PRN medicines safely.

• We discussed this medicines records issue with the registered manager who agreed to introduce guidance for staff regarding the safe use of ‘as required’ medicines. Progress made by the provider to achieve these stated aims will be assessed at their next inspection.

• Most people told us they continued to be satisfied with the support they received from the service. This quote we received from a person using the service summed up how most people felt, “I want my own place and don’t want to be living here, but its fine for now, and at least the staff are all nice.”

• People received support from staff who were kind and compassionate. Staff treated people with dignity and respect their privacy.

• People were encouraged and supported to develop their independent living skills with the long-term aim of moving on.

• The service had safeguarding procedures in place and staff had a clear understanding of these procedures.

• Risks to people had been assessed and were regularly reviewed to ensure people’s needs were safely met.

•Appropriate staff recruitment checks took place before staff started working for the service.

• There were enough staff available to meet people’s support needs.

• The service had procedures in place to reduce the risk of the spread of infection.

• Staff routinely sought the consent of the people they supported ensuring they had maximum choice and control over their lives.

• Assessments of people’s support needs were carried out before they started using the service.

• Staff were suitably trained and supported to meet people’s needs and wishes.

• People were supported to maintain a nutritionally balanced diet.

• People received the support they needed to stay healthy and to access physical and mental health care services as and when required.

• Staff met people’s spiritual and cultural needs and wishes.

• People’s care plans were personalised and routinely reviewed to ensure they remained up to date.

• People had been consulted about their support needs and involved in helping staff develop their care plan.

• People were supported to participate in meaningful activities at the service and in the wider community that reflected their social, educational and vocational needs and interests.

• People were supported to maintain relationships with their relatives and other people that mattered to them.

• People's concerns and complaints were dealt with by the provider in an appropriate and timely way.

• People nearing the end of their life received compassionate and supportive care from the provider.

• The service was well-led and management support was available for staff when they needed it.

• The provider promoted an open and inclusive culture which sought the views of people using the service, their relatives, professional representatives and staff.

• The provider had effective systems in place to assess and monitor the quality and safety of the service people received. This helped the service continuously improve it practice and to learn lessons when things went wrong.

• The provider worked in close partnership with other health and social care professionals and agencies to plan and deliver an effective service.

Rating at the last inspection:

Good overall and for all five key questions, ‘Is the service safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?’ (Report was published on 12 August 2016).

Why we inspected:

This unannounced comprehensive inspection was part of our scheduled plan of visiting services to check the safety and quality of care people received.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor the service to ensure that people receive safe, compassionate, high quality care. Further inspections will be planned for future dates in keeping with our inspection methodology.

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