CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Brambles Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, December 2019
Brambles Care Home was rated Good in all areas; inspectors found safe, kind and well-organised care.
This was an unannounced inspection on 26 November 2019. One inspector spoke with people living there, relatives, staff, the chef and the manager. They also reviewed care files, staff records, medicines information, complaints and quality checks.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines arrangements, clean surroundings and suitable safeguarding and risk management.
People were treated with kindness and respect. Their care plans recorded their needs and preferences, activities were available, complaints were managed, and people and relatives were involved in decisions. The overall rating was unchanged from the previous inspection, published in May 2017.
People felt safe
People told inspectors they felt safe. Staff understood safeguarding and knew how to report concerns.
“People told us they were safe. Suitable arrangements were in place to protect people from abuse and avoidable harm.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs, prompt responses to call alarms and suitable medicines checks.
“The deployment of staff was appropriate and there were enough staff to meet people's needs.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People were treated with dignity and staff knew their communication needs, preferences and routines.
“People and staff were relaxed in each other's company and it was evident staff knew people well.” from the report
Good involvement and activities
People and relatives could share their views, and people had access to a range of social and leisure activities.
“Suitable arrangements were in place to ensure people using the service had the opportunity to take part in leisure and social activities of their choice and interest, both 'in-house' and within the local community.” from the report
Manager supervision
minorThe manager said they did not receive regular formal supervision from the provider. They did report positive and regular communication with the provider.
“The registered manager told us they were supported by the registered provider but did not receive regular formal supervision.” from the report
- 01How will you make sure the manager receives regular formal supervision from the provider?
- 02How would you support my relative's particular communication needs, including if they live with dementia?
- 03How would you manage my relative's medicines and check that they are receiving them as prescribed?
- 04What activities would be suitable for my relative's interests, abilities and preferences?
- 05How would you involve our family in reviews of care, health appointments and end of life wishes?
This was an unannounced inspection that looked at the premises and care provided, and rated all five key questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 December 2019 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 2017
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and well-organised care, but activities for people living with dementia or staying in their rooms needed improvement.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection. Inspectors reviewed care plans, medicine records, staff files, training records, complaints and quality checks. They spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff, a health and social care professional and the registered manager.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicine systems, suitable training, kind care and care plans that reflected people's needs. People were supported with food, drink, health appointments, choice and independence.
The home remained Good, as it was at the previous inspection in July 2015. Inspectors identified one area needing improvement. They were not assured that suitable activities were available for people living with dementia or people who stayed in their own rooms.
Enough staff
Inspectors found staffing levels were sufficient to meet people's individual care and support needs safely.
“There were enough staff to help keep people safe, meet their needs and protect them from harm and abuse.” from the report
Kind and personal care
Staff knew people well, listened to them and supported their privacy, dignity and independence.
“Staff knew people very well and were kind and sensitive to their needs and ensured their privacy and dignity was respected.” from the report
Good staff training
Staff received induction, regular training, supervision and appraisals. Training included areas such as dementia, diabetes and end of life care.
“Training records confirmed staff had completed the registered provider's mandatory training.” from the report
Personal care planning
Care plans included people's preferences and were reviewed regularly. People and their representatives were involved where appropriate.
“Care plans were tailored to meet people's individual needs such as personal care preferences and any cultural or spiritual needs and wants.” from the report
Strong management oversight
The home had systems to gather views, check quality and act on areas needing improvement.
“There were systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service.” from the report
Activities for some people
needs fixingInspectors were not assured that suitable activities were available for people living with dementia or people who remained in their own rooms. The manager had identified this as an area for improvement and was taking action.
“However we were not assured that appropriate activities were available for people living with dementia or for people who remained in their own rooms.” from the report
- 01What activities are now available for people living with dementia, and how are they matched to each person's interests and abilities?
- 02How do you provide meaningful activities for people who spend much of their time in their own room?
- 03What progress has been made on the activity improvements identified during this inspection?
- 04How would you manage my relative's needs if they required nursing care, given that the home does not provide nursing care?
- 05How often would my relative's care plan be reviewed, and how would our family be involved?
This was an unannounced scheduled comprehensive inspection covering all five ratings; the report gives both 24 April 2017 and 26 April 2017 as inspection dates. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 May 2017 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 Brambles Care Home
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 12 September 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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51 live-in carers within about an hour of Southend-on-Sea
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 £960 to £1,200 a week. 44 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
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