CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Bramble Down
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff, suitable risk assessments, safe recruitment and safer medicines and infection-control arrangements. The home had improved from Requires Improvement at the previous inspection.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- People were treated with dignity, kindness and respect. Staff supported independence, personal interests, activities and communication with relatives.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found supportive leadership, a committed staff team and stronger quality checks. The home had improved from Requires Improvement at the previous inspection.
What inspectors found, June 2021
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and well-led care, with clear improvements since the previous inspection.
This was a focused inspection on 6 May 2021. Inspectors looked at Safe, Caring and Well-led. They spoke with people, relatives and staff, and reviewed care records, medicines records, recruitment files and management records.
The home was rated Good overall. Inspectors found enough staff, safer risk assessments, safe medicines arrangements and clean facilities. People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff supported people with activities, personal choices and contact with their families.
The previous inspection had rated the home Requires Improvement and found breaches relating to safe care and treatment and good governance. Inspectors found these improvements had been made, so the home was no longer in breach of those regulations. Effective and Responsive were not inspected during this visit, and their previous ratings were used.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw caring relationships and found that people were treated with dignity. Staff were patient, reassuring and encouraged independence.
“People were supported and treated with dignity and respect; and involved as partners in their care.” from the report
Personalised activities
Staff and activity workers tailored support to people's interests, wishes and abilities. They used activities, music and technology to help people stay connected and engaged.
“Staff and the activity co-ordinators ensured people were having a good day and particularly noticed how people were reacting to their environment.” from the report
Safer care systems
Risk assessments had been improved and staff knew how to follow them. Medicines were administered as prescribed, with electronic checks and accurate records.
“There was an electronic administration system which sent alerts to prevent any missed medication and used a clear stock taking process” from the report
Enough staff
Inspectors saw people receiving timely support and staff did not appear rushed. Additional recruitment during the pandemic gave staff more time with people.
“There were enough staff to meet people's needs. We saw people were attended to and supported in a timely manner and staff were not rushed.” from the report
Improved management checks
The home had strengthened its audits of medicines, care planning, staff files and satisfaction. Inspectors found the provider and manager had addressed the problems identified previously.
“These included, audits of medicine records, care planning, staff files and quality satisfaction surveys.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are my relative's risk assessments reviewed when their mobility, nutrition, medicines or other needs change?
- 02How do you check that medicines, including creams and as-required medicines, are given and recorded correctly?
- 03How do you make sure there are enough regular staff to provide continuity of care for my relative?
- 04How will my relative and our family be involved in care plan reviews and decisions about their care?
- 05What quality checks are currently carried out, and how are any problems shared with staff and put right?
This was a focused inspection of Safe, Caring and Well-led only; Effective and Responsive were not inspected and their previous ratings were carried forward. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 June 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, May 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inspectors carried out an announced, targeted inspection on 30 March 2021. They looked at infection prevention and control measures in the home as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
They were assured about visiting arrangements, testing, isolation, personal protective equipment, cleaning, ventilation and the management of possible outbreaks. Staff were also supported with training, regular checks and access to wellbeing support.
This was not a full inspection of the home. The overall service and Safe question were marked “Inspected but not rated”, so the report does not give a Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate rating.
Managed visiting
Visits were arranged in advance, and staff helped families use PPE and equipment intended to make visits positive and safe.
“Visitors were only permitted by prior appointment. A new role of 'Welcome Host' ensured a positive greeting and staff facilitated visits to make sure they were as positive as possible.” from the report
Testing and isolation
People and staff were tested regularly. The home had plans to isolate people quickly if they had symptoms or tested positive.
“People and staff have been regularly tested to ensure they have not contracted COVID-19.” from the report
PPE and staff training
Inspectors saw staff using appropriate PPE. Staff had received training on putting it on and taking it off, with regular checks to make sure guidance was followed.
“Safe procedures have been followed by staff to minimise the risk of transmitting COVID-19.” from the report
Clean environment
The home was clean and hygienic, with detailed cleaning schedules, frequent cleaning of touch points and regular deep cleaning.
“The home was clean and hygienic. Detailed cleaning schedules were in place for all areas of the home.” from the report
Support for wellbeing
The home provided activities, technology-assisted contact and support for staff wellbeing during the pandemic.
“There had been many activities to keep people's spirits up and maintain wellbeing; Christmas light display and a reindeer visit, carol singing outside, cooking club, arts and crafts club, Remembrance Day activities and celebrating BBC Music Day.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are visits arranged now, and what PPE or other precautions do visitors need to use?
- 02What happens if a resident or staff member has symptoms or tests positive for an infection?
- 03How often are residents and staff tested when there is a suspected or confirmed outbreak?
- 04How are cleaning, ventilation and high-touch areas checked and recorded?
- 05What activities and technology are currently available to support residents' wellbeing and contact with families?
This was an announced, targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic; the service was inspected but not rated overall or for Safe, and the other key questions were not covered. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 May 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.
Every inspection of Bramble Down
4 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- June 2021Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- January 2020Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 17 January 2011.
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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17 live-in carers within about an hour of Devon
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 £1,270 a week. 15 can care for a couple. 13 years' experience on average.
“She is such a warm and gentle person while being professional and competent at the same time.”
“She looked after my mum, who can be incredibly challenging, so well and so gently, and we always felt confident that my mum was getting the best care available.”
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.