Brook Meadows House

Updated 22 February 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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

The inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors. An Expert by Experience carried out telephone calls to relatives of people using the service following the 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

Brook Meadows House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Brook Meadows House is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

Inspection activity started on 18 January 2023 and ended on 27 January 2023. We visited the care home on 18 January 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 5 people who used the service and 12 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 8 members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, clinical lead and senior staff. We undertook observations of people receiving care to help us understand their experiences, especially for those people who could not talk with us. We received feedback from 3 professionals who visited the service regularly.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 5 people’s care records and 4 people’s medicine records. We looked at 5 staff files in relation to recruitment, and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including audits and safety checks.

Following the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the registered manager to validate evidence found. We looked at training, complaints and quality assurance records.

Updated 22 February 2023

About the service

Brook Meadows House is a residential care home providing the regulated activity of accommodation and personal care for up to 61 people in one adapted building. The service provides support to older people living with dementia and complex health needs.

The building consists of the ground floor, providing care for up to 31 people living with dementia. The first floor accommodates up to 30 people who are in the rehabilitation phase after being discharged from hospital before returning home, or they are being assessed and waiting for suitable accommodation or long-term care. At the time of our inspection there were 46 people using the service.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

The registered manager and senior team audited various aspects of the home such as accidents and incidents, health and safety, infection control and care planning, however we found some of the concerns identified on the day of inspection had not been picked up by the registered manager's quality assurance processes. We have made a recommendation about the management and analysis of accident and incident information.

We observed, and people told us they received safe care from staff who knew them well. There was a safeguarding policy in place and the registered manager, and staff knew how to identify and report concerns. The service had enough staff to meet the needs of people using the service. Staff had been recruited safely and pre employment checks carried out.

Risks to people had been assessed and updated in people’s care plans when their needs changed. Medicines were administered safely by trained members of staff. Staff had received an induction and training to enable them to meet people’s needs. Supervisions, appraisals and competency assessments for staff were carried out. Staff felt supported by the senior team.

We observed staff wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) appropriately. Staff had access to PPE and there were effective infection control measures in place.

People’s nutritional needs were met, and additional support was given as required. The food provided was fresh and nutritious. Staff were kind and caring and people and their relatives confirmed this. We observed staff responding to people’s needs with dignity and respect. People and relatives knew who to speak to if they had any concerns or complaints to raise.

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. However, we have made a recommendation about the current mental capacity assessments in place as they had been ticked for multiple decisions rather than assessed for 1 specific decision at a time.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people. We considered this guidance as there were people using the service who have a learning disability and or who are autistic.

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

Rating at the last inspection

This service was registered with us on 4 February 2022 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Recommendations

We have made recommendations in relation to the management and analysis of accident and incident information and completing mental capacity assessments for people which are decision specific relating to 1 decision at a time.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.