Archived: Bracken Lodge Care Home

Updated 9 September 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

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Bracken Lodge 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.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before 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 the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection-

We spoke with two people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four members of staff including the registered manager, care workers and the cook. We observed care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and medication records. We looked at one staff file in relation to recruitment and staff supervision and an agency care staff profile. A variety of records relating to the management of the service 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 with one professional who regularly visits the service.

Updated 9 September 2021

About the service

Bracken Lodge is a residential nursing home providing personal and nursing care to eight people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 18 people.

The property is a converted residential house and provides both single and double occupied rooms with shared toilet and bathing facilities. There is a passenger lift to the upper floors. Communal space includes a sitting room, dining room and outside garden.

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

People and their families described the care as safe. Legal requirements to report significant accidents or incidents and safeguarding concerns to external professional agencies were being met. Staff understood their role in recognising abuse or poor practice and understood actions needed if they had concerns. People had their individual risks assessed, monitored and reviewed and actions to minimise avoidable harm were carried out by the staff team. Medicines were administered safely. Infection prevention and control practices were in line with government best practice guidance.

Staff had the training, skills and experience to carry out their roles effectively. Refresher training was out of date due to limited training available during the pandemic. The registered manager put this in place during our inspection. People had their healthcare needs met and good working relationships with health professionals ensured good outcomes for people. 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 home had an open, friendly, positive culture with visible management that led by example ensuring person-centred care. People, their families and the staff team felt involved in the service and spoke positively about communication and teamwork. Auditing processes were in place and ensured risks to people were managed effectively. Learning was shared with the staff team. External resources were used to keep up to date with good practice including NHS community clinical leads and Public Health England.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 11 February 2020) and there were multiple breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection.

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.

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.