Brook Blackburn

Updated 16 January 2023

Brook Blackburn provides an integrated sexual health service (level 3) to people of all ages. This includes contraception, pregnancy testing and help with pregnancy choices, assessment and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, HIV support, and information and advice about sexual health and wellbeing. The service also provides psychosexual counselling, and counselling for 13-24 year olds. Brook Blackburn also provides outreach services which includes to schools and refuges, as well as to people who are homeless, use drugs and alcohol, or sell sex.

Brook Blackburn is commissioned by the borough council to provide level 3 sexual health services to the people of Blackburn and Darwen. The Integrated Care Board (ICB) commissions the counselling service for 13-24 year olds. The service is based in the centre of Blackburn.

Brook Blackburn is provided by Brook Young People and was registered in 2013. Brook Young People is a registered charity, and provides services across the country. Most of its services provide sexual healthcare for younger people. Brook Blackburn started providing an all-age service in April 2021.

The service is registered to provide the regulated activities: treatment of disease, disorder or injury; diagnostic and screening procedures; and family planning. The service has a registered manager, who is also the registered manager of Brook Burnley. The management team and some other staff work across both services.

The service has been inspected once in 2017 but was not rated. Following the 2017 inspection we issued the provider with a requirement notice under regulation 13 (safeguarding) of the Health and Social Care Act (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. Following the current inspection we found that the provider was now compliant with this regulation.

This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection. As Brook Blackburn and Brook Burnley share some staff including the management team, both inspections were carried out concurrently across both sites.

Updated 16 January 2023

This is the first time we have rated this service. We rated it as good because:

• The service had enough staff to care for patients and keep them safe. Staff had training in key skills, understood how to protect patients from abuse, and managed safety well. The service controlled infection risk well. Staff assessed risks to patients, acted on them and kept good care records. They managed medicines well. The service managed safety incidents well and learned lessons from them. Staff collected safety information and used it to improve the service.
• Staff provided good care and treatment. Managers monitored the effectiveness of the service and made sure staff were competent. Staff worked well together for the benefit of patients, advised them on how to lead healthier lives, supported them to make decisions about their care, and had access to good information.
• Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, took account of their individual needs, and helped them understand their conditions. They provided emotional support to patients, families and carers.
• The service planned care to meet the needs of local people, took account of patients’ individual needs, and made it easy for people to give feedback. People could access the service when they needed it and did not have to wait too long for most treatments.
• Leaders ran services well using reliable information systems. Staff were supported to develop their skills. Staff understood the service’s vision and values, and how to apply them in their work. Staff felt respected, supported and valued. They were focused on the needs of patients receiving care. Staff were clear about their roles and accountabilities. The service engaged well with patients and the community to plan and manage services and all staff were committed to improving services continually.

However:

• Patients sometimes had to wait several weeks to have a coil fitted.

Updated 16 January 2023

See the summary above for details.