CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Blackbrook House Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control, including PPE, testing, visiting, cleaning and outbreak arrangements.
- Effective?
- Good
- This was not covered by the targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This was not covered by the targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This was not covered by the targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This was not covered by the targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, April 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and safe visiting arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 9 March 2021. It checked how well the home was prepared to prevent and control COVID-19 infections.
Inspectors found that staff used personal protective equipment safely, followed social distancing where possible, and had infection control training. The home was clean, visitors were screened, and people and staff were tested regularly.
The home had a designated room for safe visits, including visits in exceptional circumstances such as end of life care. One policy needed updating, but staff were following current guidance and it was updated immediately after the inspection.
The service was inspected but not rated. This report does not give an overall rating or assess wider areas such as caring, effectiveness, responsiveness or leadership.
Safe use of PPE
Staff used, removed and disposed of PPE safely. They wore the required PPE during the inspection.
“Staff put on, took off and disposed of personal protective equipment (PPE) safely in line with the relevant guidance.” from the report
Safer visiting
The home had a designated visiting room with infection control measures. Relatives could also visit safely in exceptional circumstances.
“There was a designated room with appropriate infection prevention and control measures set up, enabling safe visiting.” from the report
Testing and outbreak planning
Regular testing was carried out for staff and residents. The home had plans for dealing with an outbreak.
“Regular testing was completed for staff and people living at the service.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean and hygienic, with regular cleaning of frequently touched areas and visiting spaces.
“The service was clean and hygienic. Robust cleaning measure were in place.” from the report
One policy needed updating
minorInspectors found one policy that was out of date. Staff were following current guidance and the policy was updated immediately after the inspection.
“We found one policy which needed to be updated however, the staff were following current guidance in practice.” from the report
- 01How have your infection prevention and control arrangements changed since the inspection on 09 March 2021?
- 02How do you currently manage visits, including visits in exceptional circumstances such as end of life care?
- 03How often are staff and residents tested, and what happens if someone tests positive?
- 04How do you make sure your infection control policies are kept up to date?
- 05What is your current plan for managing a COVID-19 or other infection outbreak?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic; it did not assess the other areas of care and the service was not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 April 2021 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, January 2020
Blackbrook House Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with staff supervision not always as regular as planned.
This was an unannounced inspection on 30 December 2019. One inspector spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and health professionals. They reviewed care records, medicines records, recruitment files, training information and management records.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People said they felt safe, staff were kind, there were enough staff, and people received care that met their needs.
The inspection found that medicines were being managed safely. This was an improvement from the previous inspection, when medicines records had not always been reliable. The home also had systems for checking risks, handling concerns, supporting nutrition and improving quality.
The report identified one shortfall. Staff supervision had not happened as regularly as the manager intended, although staff told inspectors they felt supported. The previous overall rating was also Good.
Safe medicines
Medicines were given as prescribed, records were complete, and storage temperatures were checked. Inspectors said improvements made after the previous inspection were working well.
“At this inspection we found those improvements were embedded and working well.” from the report
Enough staff
Inspectors observed enough staff to meet people's needs. Recruitment checks were also completed before staff started work.
“During our inspection we observed there were sufficient numbers of staff deployed to meet people's needs.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff knew people well and supported their privacy and choices.
“We observed people being treated with respect and kindness by staff who clearly knew people well.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans covered people's health, personal care, moving and handling, social needs and preferences. Records were reviewed and updated when needed.
“People received care that was personalised and met their individual needs.” from the report
Positive leadership
The home had an established manager, good teamwork and quality checks. People, relatives, professionals and staff described the home as well managed.
“There was an open, positive culture of valuing staff and valuing people.” from the report
Supervision was behind schedule
minorStaff had supervision, but not as often as the manager intended. Staff said they felt supported, and the manager was working to provide more supervision.
“Staff had supervision but not as regularly as the registered manager aimed for.” from the report
- 01How often do staff now receive supervision, and how do you check that it happens as planned?
- 02How do you make sure the improved medicines recording system remains reliable?
- 03How are my relative's care plans reviewed, and how will I be involved in those reviews?
- 04What activities are available for someone with my relative's interests and communication needs?
- 05How would you support my relative's wishes if they needed end of life care?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, and the home and the care provided were both looked at. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 January 2020 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Blackbrook House Care Home
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- January 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2017GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2012
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 11 June 2012.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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26 live-in carers within about an hour of Hampshire
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £1,020 to £1,260 a week. 23 can care for a couple. 14 years' experience on average.
“I cannot recommend Prisca highly enough, she is one in a million.”
“He stayed with her throughout the pandemic, refusing to visit his own family, who lived nearby, to reduce the risk of infection.”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.