Background to this inspection
Updated
11 March 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 (IPC) 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 23 February 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection.
Updated
11 March 2022
About the service
Brook House is a residential care home providing personal care to 9 people with learning and/or physical disabilities. The service can accommodate 10 people.
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
The service was a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties. It was registered for the support of up to 10 people. Nine people were using the service. This is larger than current best practice guidance. However. the size of the service having a negative impact on people was mitigated by the building design fitting into the residential area and the other large domestic homes of a similar size. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were protected from the risk of abuse and avoidable harm by staff who understood how to recognise and respond to concerns. People told us staff were available when they needed them and they felt safe in their care. The environment was clean and well maintained. People were safely supported to receive their medicines, as prescribed.
People's needs were assessed, and care and support had been planned in partnership with them. People were provided with a nutritious and varied diet. Staff had received regular training and supervision to support them to meet people's needs. 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 told us staff were kind, caring, attentive and treated them with respect. They said staff respected their privacy and dignity and supported them to be as independent as possible.
People received person-centred care which was responsive to their needs. The registered manager managed people's concerns and people told us they felt listened to. The registered manager worked in partnership with a variety of agencies to ensure people received all the support they needed. People were happy with how the service was managed. Staff felt well supported by the registered manager and the director who visited regularly. The registered manager and provider completed regular audits and checks, which ensured appropriate levels of quality and safety were maintained at the home.
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
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 requires improvement (published 7 November 2018) and there was one breach of regulation. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.