Archived: The Bridgewell Centre

Updated 13 September 2016

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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This unannounced inspection took place on 16 and 18 August 2016. It was carried out by one inspector and an inspection manager on the first day and by one inspector on the second day.

Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We looked at all the information we had collected about the service. This included the PIR, the previous inspection reports and notifications the service had sent us. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to tell us about by law.

During the inspection we spoke with five of the 12 people using the service and one visiting relative. We spoke with the manager, two duty coordinators and two support workers. We observed interactions between people who use the service and staff during the two days of our inspection. After the inspection we sought feedback on the service from eight social care professionals and eight healthcare professionals. We received feedback from two social care professionals and two healthcare professionals.

We looked at three people's care plans, associated documentation and medication records. We looked at the staff training log, staff supervision log and the recruitment files for the one member of staff employed since our last inspection. Medicines storage and handling were checked. We reviewed a number of documents relating to the management of the service. For example, the utility service certificates, fire risk assessment, legionella risk assessment, fire safety checks and the complaints and incidents records.

Updated 13 September 2016

This inspection took place on 16 and 18 August 2016 and was unannounced. We last inspected the service in April 2014. At that inspection we found the service was compliant with the essential standards we inspected.

The Bridgewell Centre is a care home without nursing and provides a service for up to 42 people. They provide short term care (usually up to six weeks) for people needing professional help to improve their mobility or self-help skills. The service aims to make it possible for people to return to their own home and live as independently as possible in the community. People may be admitted to the service from hospital after an injury or period of illness, or from their own home to avoid hospital admission or having to move to a care home. At the time of our inspection there were 12 people using the service.

The service had been through a number of changes since our last inspection. From 31 March 2016 the service changed from a care home with nursing to a care home without nursing and stopped offering a service to people with nursing care needs. This was due to the end of the contract between the provider and Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, who had previously provided the on-site trained nurses and eight of the support workers. Since then, the registered nurse input has been provided by the local community nursing team.

The service did not have a registered manager at the time of our inspection. The previous registered manager left in May 2016. A new manager took on the responsibility of managing the service in May 2016 and filed an application with CQC to become registered at the same time. The new manager is the registered manager of another of the provider's services that works closely with The Bridgewell Centre. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the service is run. The new manager was present and assisted us during this inspection.

Staff were professional and skilful when working with people. It was obvious staff knew how individuals liked things done and people were treated with care and kindness. Staff were aware of people's abilities and encouraged them to be as independent as possible.

People received support that was person centred and incorporated their personal preferences and needs. People said staff knew what they liked and what they were able to do for themselves. People confirmed staff helped them to work towards their individual goals for independence.

People received appropriate health care support. People's health and well-being was assessed and measures put in place to ensure people's needs were met in an individualised way. Medicines were stored and administered safely.

People were protected from the risks of abuse and from risks associated with their health and care provision. They were protected by recruitment processes and people could be confident that staff were checked for suitability before being allowed to work with them.

There were sufficient numbers of staff on each shift to make sure people's needs were met. People benefitted from staff who received training to ensure they could carry out their work safely and effectively

Risks related to the premises were assessed and monitored. Checks were in place and action taken, where necessary, to address any identified risks.

People's rights to make their own decisions were protected. The manager and staff had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. They were aware of their responsibilities related to the Act and ensured that any decisions made on behalf of people were made within the law and in their best interests.

People knew how to raise concerns and felt they were listened to and taken seriously if they did. Staff were clear on what actions they should take should anyone raise concerns with them.

People benefitted from staying at a service that had an open and friendly culture. People felt staff were happy working at the service. People's wellbeing was protected and all interactions observed between staff and people at the service were caring, friendly and respectful. People's rights to confidentiality were upheld and staff treated them with respect and dignity.