Background to this inspection
Updated
5 March 2021
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 Care Act 2014.
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, a specialist nurse 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
The Bridge Care Centre is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We spoke with five people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with nine members of staff which included the registered manager, charge nurse, registered nurses, occupational therapy lead, therapy assistant, health care staff and the maintenance officer.
We reviewed a range of records. This included nine people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke by telephone with 11 relatives and five external health professionals who regularly visit the service.
Updated
5 March 2021
About the service
The Bridge Care Centre is a care home providing personal and nursing care for up to 40 adults. People accessing the service are living with a neurological disorder and or a physical disability. At the time of inspection 24 were staying at the service.
The Bridge Care Centre is a large, purpose built home providing accommodation over four separate units, each supporting up to ten people and all having their own adapted facilities.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People and their relatives were happy with the care and support they received from the service. One person said, “I am definitely safe and well cared for here.” One relative said, “[Person] feels safe. This is the most responsive team [Person] has had, they [Staff] are empathetic, very intuitive at recognising and trying to understand [Person’s] needs.”
Staff supported people to be as independent as possible whilst ensuring they remained safe and well. There was a proactive approach to assessing and managing risk which allowed people to rebuild their life whilst living with neurological disorders and physical disabilities. One health professional said, “Staff interact genuinely with people, they are very motivated to provide the best possible care and achieve people’s outcomes.”
Medicines systems were organised, and people were receiving their medicines when they should. The service was following national guidance for the receipt, storage, administration, prompting and disposal of medicines.
Staff were skilled and knowledgeable in the care and support people required. They provided flexible care and support in line with a person's needs and wishes. Staff worked alongside a range of health professionals to provide people with a better quality of life, supporting them to develop in areas such as communication, social interaction and independence.
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.
The management structure in the service ensured people and staff had access to, and support from, a competent management team and specialist therapists. The provider monitored quality, sought people's views and planned ongoing improvements.
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 5 September 2019).
Why we inspected
We received concerns in relation to the management of people’s nursing care needs. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe, effective and well-led only.
We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at 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.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for The Bridge on our website at www.cqc.org.uk .
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.