Archived: Brook Lodge

Updated 3 July 2019

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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team:

The inspection team consisted of one inspector.

Service and service type:

Brook Lodge is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during the 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:

The inspection was unannounced.

What we did:

We reviewed information we had received about the service. This included details about incidents the provider must notify us about, such as abuse. We assessed the information we require providers to send us at least annually to give key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection, we reviewed five people’s care records and risk assessments. We reviewed a variety of records in respect of the management of the service including medicines management, recruitment, audits and quality assurance, complaints and accident analysis. We spoke with four people using the service, two members of care staff, deputy manager, head cook, operational lead, clinical lead and the registered manager who is also the provider. We observed interactions between people and staff in communal areas.

We reviewed comments from relatives and healthcare professionals that had been left in a CQC comment box. We received feedback from healthcare professionals before the inspection.

Updated 3 July 2019

About the service:

Brook Lodge is a care home that provides personal or nursing care to up to 28 adults. There were 21 people living at the service at the time of the inspection.

People’s experience of using this service:

People told us they felt safe living at the service. We observed a warm relationship between people and staff, people were chatting, laughing and dancing with staff.

Guidance for staff about keeping people safe was available but it could be improved by being more specific to each person’s risks and needs. Checks and audits were completed but the medicines and care plan audits did not identify the shortfalls we found at this inspection.

People were protected from abuse, staff understood how to report any concerns they may have. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs, who had been recruited safely and received training and supervision.

Accidents and incidents had been recorded and analysed to identify any pattern or trends. Action had been taken to keep people safe. People were supported to be as active and independent as possible.

People had been assessed to make sure they could meet people’s needs. People were involved as much as possible in developing their care plans and reviewing them. People were encouraged to express their views about their care and the service. People’s views were respected, and people were supported to make decisions.

People knew how to complain, and any complaints had been resolved to people’s satisfaction. People were asked their opinions on the service by attending meetings and completing surveys, suggestions had been acted upon.

We observed people being treated with dignity and respect. People’s end of life wishes were recorded and people were supported at the end of their lives to be comfortable.

There was an open and transparent culture within the service, people recognised and greeted the management team warmly. People had built strong relationships with staff and told us they felt like family.

Rating at last inspection:

This is the first inspection since the service registered on 27 June 2018.

Why we inspected:

We inspect all newly registered services within the first year, this was a planned inspection.

Follow up:

We will work with the provider following this report being published to understand how they will make changes to ensure the service improves to the rating of at least Good.

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