CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Bramley House Residential Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People felt safe. Inspectors found suitable risk assessments, enough staff, safe recruitment, safe medicines practice and effective infection prevention measures.
- Effective?
- Good
- People received care that met their needs, with suitable staff training, food and healthcare support. Inspectors found that Mental Capacity Act assessments and best-interest decisions were not always completed correctly.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were kind, respectful and attentive. People were offered choices and supported to maintain their independence and privacy.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care was personalised to people's needs, communication styles and interests. People were supported with activities, relationships, visits and complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The management team was visible and approachable, and inspectors found a positive, homely culture. However, care records were not always updated promptly and had not been audited consistently.
What inspectors found, January 2023
Bramley House Residential Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some records and Mental Capacity Act processes needing improvement.
This was an unannounced inspection on 28 November 2022. Two inspectors observed care, spoke with four people and one relative, spoke with five staff, and checked care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People said they felt safe and at home. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines practice, kind care, suitable activities and good access to healthcare.
There were two areas to improve. Mental Capacity Act processes were not fully embedded, and care plans and records were not always updated promptly or checked through audits. The provider said it was making changes. Inspectors found no evidence that these issues had affected people's care.
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs and found no gaps in the medicines administration records they checked.
“There were sufficient staff available to support people safely.” from the report
Personalised support
Staff understood people's histories, preferences, communication needs and interests. Care was adapted to individual needs.
“People received personalised care in line with their preferences.” from the report
Activities and relationships
People could take part in activities, go out if they wished and keep in touch with family and friends.
“People were encouraged to maintain contact with those who were important to them.” from the report
Positive culture
Inspectors found an open and welcoming atmosphere, with management involved in the day-to-day running of the home.
“There was an open, welcoming and homely atmosphere.” from the report
Mental Capacity Act records
needs fixingSome capacity assessments were not specific to the decision being made, and best-interest decisions were not always recorded when needed. Inspectors recommended stronger systems, although they found no evidence this affected people's lives.
“However, where capacity assessments were required these were not always decision specific and best interest decisions were not always completed when required.” from the report
Care records not always up to date
needs fixingCare plans and records were not always updated promptly, and audits had not been completed to check that records were consistent. The provider said new software and a stronger auditing process were being introduced.
“Care plans and records were not always updated promptly and were not audited to ensure they were of a consistent standard.” from the report
- 01How do you now make sure capacity assessments are specific to each decision?
- 02How are best-interest decisions recorded and checked when they are needed?
- 03Has the new software been introduced, and how has it improved care plan updates?
- 04How often are care records audited, and what happens when gaps are found?
- 05What changes were made after the historic concerns about support with eating?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five key questions, including infection prevention and control, and it also examined historic concerns about eating support. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 January 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, August 2018
Bramley House Residential Home was rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe and person-centred care, with earlier record-keeping problems resolved.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection. Inspectors reviewed records, policies, staff files and accident reports. They also spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff, the activities coordinator 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 medicines management, suitable training, respectful care, activities, and care plans that reflected people's wishes.
The previous inspection in July 2017 found poor record keeping and led to enforcement action. At this inspection, inspectors said the earlier shortfalls had been addressed and they had no concerns about the records they checked.
Kind and respectful care
Staff showed compassion and respected people's dignity, privacy, choices and independence. They knew people's histories and individual ways of communicating.
“People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect.” from the report
Safe medicines and staffing
Inspectors found no gaps in medicines administration records. They also found enough suitably recruited staff to meet people's needs.
“People received the medicines prescribed to them because we found no gaps on people's medicine administration records.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's preferences and abilities. Staff supported individual choices, including food preferences, time spent in bed and activities outside the home.
“People's care plans took into account their wishes and preferences.” from the report
Activities and community links
People could join outings, films, exercise, scrabble, poetry and visits from local people and organisations.
“People had access to a wide range of activities on offer.” from the report
Previous records problem resolved
The report says the poor record keeping found at the previous inspection had been addressed. Inspectors had no concerns about the records held for people at this inspection.
“At this inspection were saw that these shortfalls had been addressed and as such we had no concerns in relation to the records held for people.” from the report
Safeguarding training was not complete for one newer staff member
needs fixingOne staff member who had been in post for a couple of months had completed fire training but had not yet completed safeguarding training. The overall rating for Safe and Effective was still Good.
“They said they had completed fire training but were yet to do safeguarding training.” from the report
- 01How do you make sure safeguarding training is completed promptly for new staff?
- 02How many staff are on duty on each floor when the home is full?
- 03How are medicines records and other care records checked now that earlier record-keeping problems have been addressed?
- 04What activities would be suitable for my relative's interests and abilities?
- 05How would you involve my relative and our family in reviewing their care plan?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions and checking whether action had been taken after the previous record-keeping concerns. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 August 2018 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 Bramley House Residential Home
5 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Bramley House Residential Home →
- August 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Bramley House Residential Home →
- October 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- May 2017Goodstayed GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 19 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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