CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Brambles Residential Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People had risk assessments and care plans, staff were safely recruited, and there were enough staff to meet people's needs. Inspectors found problems with medicines recording, fire drills and some environmental safety matters.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had quality checks, improvement plans, regular meetings and systems for gathering feedback. Managers acted on feedback and worked with outside health and social care professionals.
What inspectors found, December 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, caring support, but medicines checks, fire drills and worn surfaces needed attention.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 8 and 16 November 2023. Inspectors spoke with people, relatives and staff, and checked care records, medicines records, staff files and other documents.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. People were protected by risk assessments, care plans, safe recruitment and enough staff. The home also had systems to monitor quality and act on problems.
Inspectors found some minor medicines problems. Creams were not always dated when opened, and checks on pain relief patches were not always made. Some toilet seats and bathrooms needed attention, some staff had not completed a fire drill in the previous 12 months, and parts of the building were worn.
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only. The other ratings were carried over from the previous comprehensive inspection, when the overall rating was also Good.
Risk planning
People's risks were assessed and care records gave staff information about how to support people safely.
“Risks to people's health and wellbeing were assessed and monitored.” from the report
Staffing and recruitment
Inspectors found enough staff and checks had been completed before staff were employed.
“Pre-employment checks had been carried out to ensure staff were suitable for the role.” from the report
Quality oversight
The management team used quality checks, meetings and improvement plans to monitor the service and respond to issues.
“Quality assurance systems were in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service and drive improvements.” from the report
Positive relationships
Inspectors saw caring and supportive interactions. People and relatives spoke positively about the care.
“Throughout our inspection, we observed caring and supportive interactions between people and staff.” from the report
Medicines records and checks
needs fixingMedicinal creams were not always dated after opening. Checks were also not always made to ensure pain relief patches stayed in place. The provider acted after inspectors raised this.
“Medicinal creams were not always dated when opened. This meant staff were not aware of the date the medicine should be disposed of and risked people receiving medicines which were no longer effective.” from the report
Fire drill training
seriousNot all staff had taken part in a fire drill during the previous 12 months. Inspectors said this could delay an emergency response.
“This meant people may be at risk of delayed emergency response in the event of a fire.” from the report
Worn and damaged areas
needs fixingSome surfaces were worn or damaged and could not be thoroughly cleaned. The provider had identified this and had plans to refurbish the home.
“However, some surfaces in the home were worn and damaged which meant they could not be thoroughly cleaned.” from the report
Environmental issues
needs fixingInspectors found loose toilet seats and cluttered bathrooms on the first day. Immediate action was taken after this was raised.
“We discussed this with the registered and regional manager and immediate action was taken.” from the report
- 01What changes have been made to ensure medicinal creams are dated when opened?
- 02How are staff now checking that pain relief patches remain in place?
- 03Have all staff completed a fire drill, and how often will this be checked?
- 04What is the timetable for the planned refurbishment of worn and damaged surfaces?
- 05What immediate action was taken about the loose toilet seats and cluttered bathrooms?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings carried over from the previous comprehensive inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 December 2023 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 prevention and control arrangements were keeping people safe at Brambles Residential Care Home.
This was an announced inspection on 24 March 2021. It was carried out as part of the CQC's coronavirus pandemic review of infection prevention and control in care homes.
Inspectors found that visitors were screened for symptoms and required to take a lateral flow test. They were also assured about PPE, testing, social distancing, admissions, cleaning, laundry and the management of infection outbreaks.
The home supported visits through video calls, mobile phones and a visiting pod. Activities continued with changes to reduce infection risks, and separate routes were used for visits to people who were unwell or receiving end-of-life care.
Visitor safety
Visitors were screened for Covid-19 symptoms and had to take a lateral flow test before visiting.
“There was a system to ensure any visitors to the home were screened for symptoms of Covid-19 and were required to completed a lateral flow test” from the report
Family contact
The home used mobile phones, video calls and a purpose-built visiting pod to help people stay in touch with relatives.
“A 'visiting pod' had been built at the front of the building.” from the report
Infection control
Inspectors were assured about the home's use of PPE, testing, hygiene measures and arrangements for people who were isolating.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Cleaning and laundry
Cleaning and deep-cleaning routines had been increased. Laundry for people who were isolating was handled separately.
“Cleaning schedules and deep clean routines had been increased to monitor cleanliness of the environment.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are visitors currently screened and tested before coming into the home?
- 02Is the visiting pod still available, and what other ways can relatives visit safely?
- 03How are activities organised for people who are isolating?
- 04How are cleaning schedules and deep cleans monitored now?
- 05How are visits arranged when someone is unwell or receiving end-of-life care?
This was a focused coronavirus-related inspection of infection prevention and control; Safe was inspected but not rated, and the other key questions were not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 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 Brambles Residential Care Home
3 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Brambles Residential Care Home →
- May 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Brambles Residential Care Home →
- June 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 10 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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