What the CQC found at Bramwell

People and relatives were generally positive about staff. Inspectors saw staff respond with kindness and reassurance when people were upset.

“People felt well cared for and there were positive relationships between people and the staff who cared for them.” from the report

Medicines were stored securely, given as prescribed and recorded correctly.

“People received their medicines as prescribed and they were safely stored.” from the report

Staff received training relevant to their roles and regular supervision. Inspectors saw staff use their training to support safe transfers.

“People were cared for by staff who received appropriate training and support.” from the report

People had enough food, drinks and snacks. The home arranged support from GPs, nurses and specialist healthcare services when needed.

“People had access to sufficient food and drink and staff ensured they had access to healthcare professionals.” from the report

People and relatives knew how to complain. The complaints inspectors reviewed had been investigated and answered promptly.

“Each complaint had been investigated and responded to in a timely manner.” from the report

Some risks were not properly assessed or followed up. Examples included missed checks after falls, unsuitable footwear and missing pressure-relief equipment.

“Risks to people's health and safety were not always properly assessed and steps to reduce risks were not always taken.” from the report

Inspectors found cleaning problems in kitchenettes and dining areas. The same cloths were used for sinks and toilets in different bedrooms, creating a risk of cross-contamination.

“Some areas of the home were not effectively cleaned which exposed people to the risk of infection.” from the report

There were periods when lounges were left unattended and people did not get the help they needed with meals or personal care. Staff were also taking on other duties, such as laundry and meal preparation.

“There were not always enough staff to meet people's needs in a timely way.” from the report

Care plans were sometimes out of date or lacked enough detail. People could spend long periods without activities, including no planned activities at weekends.

“People did not always receive person-centred care and staff did not always have accurate, up to date information about people needs.” from the report

Audits did not always identify problems or make sure improvements happened on time. Some care records were incomplete and confidential records were not always securely stored.

“The quality monitoring systems that were in place did not always result in improvements to the service people received.” from the report