CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Bramerton
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection risks, visiting, cleaning, PPE and testing were being managed. The provider also had measures to reduce the effects of COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in the report.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in the report.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- This area was not assessed in the report.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- This area was not assessed in the report.
What inspectors found, March 2022
Bramerton was inspected but not rated; inspectors found well-managed infection control, safe visiting arrangements and support for people during COVID-19.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 24 February 2022. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and whether COVID-19 staffing pressures affected the home.
The home had checks for visitors, regular cleaning, enough personal protective equipment and regular testing for people and staff. Inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed and that the home had plans to support people who might need to isolate.
The home was following the government guidance then in force for visits and vaccination checks. Relatives were kept updated and supported to stay in touch with people.
The service was inspected but not rated. This report does not give a new overall rating or ratings for most of the five areas CQC normally assesses.
Infection control
The home had detailed entry checks, cleaning routines, PPE procedures and regular testing. Inspectors were assured that infection prevention measures were in place.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Clean environment
The home was clean and staff followed a regular cleaning schedule. Daily checks and audits were used to support safety.
“The home was clean, and a regular cleaning schedule was in place and followed by all staff in the service.” from the report
Support during isolation
The home provided extra staff time and meaningful activities for a person who had to isolate. It also had plans to increase one-to-one support if others needed to isolate.
“Only one person had to isolate due to COVID-19 and the provider ensured they were supported with staff spending more time with the person and providing meaningful activities.” from the report
Contact with relatives
Relatives received regular updates and were supported to visit in line with government guidance.
“Additional, regular communication took place with relatives of people in the service.” from the report
Decision-making records
Inspectors saw a detailed mental capacity and best-interest document about vaccination decisions, including involvement from relevant people.
“We saw a very thorough mental capacity assessment and best interest document used in respect of people having the capacity to be vaccinated.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you currently manage infection risks for visitors, staff and residents?
- 02What are your current arrangements for testing, PPE and cleaning?
- 03How would you support my relative if they needed to isolate?
- 04How do you manage staffing pressures when staff are absent because of COVID-19?
- 05How will relatives be kept informed and able to visit if infection restrictions return?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 March 2022 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, July 2019
Rated Outstanding; inspectors found safe, kind and effective care, with exceptional support that was responsive and well-led.
This was an unannounced planned inspection on 26 and 29 April 2019. One inspector spoke with people, relatives, staff and health and social care professionals. They observed care, checked 11 care records, seven staff files and the home’s systems and records.
People were found to be safe, treated with dignity and supported by staff who understood their needs. The home had suitable staffing, medicine systems, risk plans and infection control. Staff supported people to make choices, stay healthy and access health services.
Inspectors rated the home Outstanding overall. Safe, effective and caring were rated Good. Responsive and well-led were rated Outstanding. The home had improved from Good at the previous inspection on 13 October 2016, and inspectors identified no concerns.
Personalised support
Support was tailored to each person and helped people take part in activities, use the community and make their own decisions. Inspectors linked this with reductions in distress and self-injury.
“People consistently experienced exceptional person-centred care, which has significantly reduced the level of behaviours that may challenge others and incidence of self-injurious behaviour.” from the report
Continuity of care
A stable core staff group knew people well and provided consistent support. Inspectors said this had a major effect on people's quality of life.
“Excellent consistency and continuity of care provided by a stable staff team has had a major impact on people's quality of life.” from the report
Choice and communication
Staff used people's preferred ways of communicating and adapted support when people changed their minds. People were involved in decisions about their care and daily lives.
“Throughout the inspection we saw care staff asking for people's consent and offering them choices and options.” from the report
Strong leadership
The management team created an open and inclusive culture. Staff felt listened to and valued, and quality checks were used to improve the service.
“The management team had cultivated an extremely open, inclusive and empowering culture.” from the report
Safe medicines support
Staff had regular competency checks, used clear protocols and audited medicine records. The report also noted a reduction in prescribed antipsychotic medicines.
“Records demonstrated that people has received their medicines as prescribed, in a way they preferred, in line with their medicine management plans.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How has the stable staff team and continuity of care changed since the inspection in April 2019?
- 02How do you support people whose behaviour may challenge others, and how do you review whether support is reducing distress or self-injury?
- 03How are medicines, including as-required and antipsychotic medicines, reviewed and checked now?
- 04How do you support people to make choices and communicate their wishes in their preferred way?
- 05What arrangements are in place to support safe community access, including any tracking or other safety measures?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering the overall quality and safety of the home across all five CQC questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 July 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.
Every inspection of Bramerton
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- July 2019Outstandingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- December 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 8 December 2010.
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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83 live-in carers within about an hour of Windsor and Maidenhead
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Most charge £1,020 to £1,260 a week. 76 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
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