CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Branch House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Requires improvement
- Some environmental risks were not well managed. Inspectors found issues with window restrictors, fire checks, fire doors, legionella checks and the labelling of topical creams.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected in this visit. The report says the rating was carried over from the previous comprehensive inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not inspected in this visit. The report says the rating was carried over from the previous comprehensive inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not inspected in this visit. The report says the rating was carried over from the previous comprehensive inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The manager was described as open, approachable and knowledgeable. Audits and other management systems were being used to monitor quality and safety.
What inspectors found, July 2022
Branch House rated Good overall; inspectors found kind, person-centred care, but safety checks were not always properly managed.
This was an unannounced inspection on 23 and 24 May 2022. One inspector and an Expert by Experience spoke with the four people living there, relatives and staff. They checked medicines, care records, infection control and management records.
People were generally treated with kindness and respect. Staff supported people to make choices, stay as independent as possible, communicate in their preferred ways and take part in activities. The home had enough staff and medicines were mostly managed safely.
The Safe rating had fallen from Good to Requires Improvement. Inspectors found problems with environmental safety checks, fire safety arrangements, legionella checks and labelling some creams. The Well-led rating remained Good. The overall Good rating included ratings for other areas carried over from the previous comprehensive inspection.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors observed kind, relaxed and compassionate interactions. Staff understood people's individual needs and protected their privacy and dignity.
“People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people's privacy and dignity.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were involved in decisions about their care and were supported to take positive risks. Staff encouraged people to use their strengths and take part in daily life.
“People were supported to be involved in decisions about their care and support.” from the report
Communication support
Staff used people's preferred communication methods, including Makaton and pictures, to help them make choices and express their views.
“People who had individual ways of communicating, such as using Makaton (a form of sign language) and pictures could interact comfortably with staff” from the report
Good management oversight
The manager was visible and responsive. Regular audits and tracking systems were used to monitor medicines, complaints, accidents and other significant events.
“Governance processes helped to hold staff to account, keep people safe, protect people's rights and provide good quality care and support.” from the report
Environmental and fire safety
seriousSome risk assessments were not being followed. Window restrictors had been undone, fire checks were not completed as often as required, and inspectors identified that fire doors were not in place.
“Some environmental risks were not being well managed. Risk assessments, that were in place in relation to the environment, were not being followed.” from the report
Legionella checks
needs fixingThe required survey had not been completed when inspectors visited. It was completed after the inspection, and the provider said it would address the shortfalls found.
“Legionella checks had not been completed.” from the report
Cream labelling
needs fixingTopical creams were not dated when opened and did not say where on the body they should be applied. The manager said this would be corrected.
“Topical creams were not dated when opened and did not give details of where on the body they should be applied.” from the report
Mixed family involvement
minorMost relatives felt fully involved, but one relative said they did not feel involved. Families should check how they will be kept informed and included.
“However, another stated they didn't feel involved.” from the report
- 01Have the fire safety shortfalls identified after the inspection been fully completed, and can you explain what changed?
- 02How do you now make sure window restrictors and fire checks match the home's risk assessments?
- 03Has the legionella survey been completed, and what actions resulted from it?
- 04Are topical creams now dated when opened and labelled with where they should be applied?
- 05How will my relative and our family be involved in care decisions and kept informed?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings were carried over from the previous comprehensive inspection published in March 2020. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 July 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, March 2020
Branch House rated Good; inspectors found kind, person-centred care, with some management and end-of-life planning work still developing.
The inspection took place on 13 February 2020. One inspector met all four people living in the home and its annexe, spoke with people, staff, managers and relatives, observed care, and checked care plans, medicines records, complaints and quality checks.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found staff understood people's needs, communicated well and supported choice, independence and meaningful activities. People had access to healthcare and were supported with food, medicines and risks.
The home had a caring and committed staff team. Its systems for checking quality and paperwork were being reviewed and improved. The previous inspection rating was also Good, published in June 2017.
Kind relationships
People had warm relationships with staff who knew them well, understood how they communicated and treated them with respect.
“People had built strong and warm relationships with staff and were relaxed in their company.” from the report
Choice and independence
Staff supported people to make decisions and develop skills, while avoiding unnecessary restrictions.
“People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible” from the report
Personalised support
The home arranged its environment, staffing and activities around each person's needs, interests and preferred lifestyle.
“This meant people had support that reflected their individual needs and preferences and valued their individuality.” from the report
Health support
People were supported to attend health appointments and manage ongoing or complex health needs.
“People had access to healthcare when they needed it.” from the report
Quality systems still developing
minorThe home was continuing to develop and embed its systems for monitoring standards and addressing shortfalls. The report says actions identified by audits had been taken.
“Systems were being developed and embedded to monitor standards and address shortfalls.” from the report
End-of-life planning
minorCare plans included information about support if someone became very unwell, but inspectors said this work was not yet complete.
“Care plans included information, gathered from people and relatives, about how best to support the person should they become very unwell. This was an area of ongoing work.” from the report
- 01How is the new manager's application to take over the CQC registration progressing?
- 02What changes were made to medicine storage after the quality audit, and how are these checks now monitored?
- 03How will you complete and review each person's end-of-life care plan?
- 04How are people living in the home involved in recruiting new staff?
- 05How do you make sure communication tools and information remain suited to each person's needs?
This was a planned inspection covering all five key questions; all five ratings remained Good from the previous inspection published in June 2017. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 March 2020 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 Branch House
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- July 2022Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2017GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2016
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 18 October 2016.
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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76 live-in carers within about two hours of Somerset
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 £1,020 to £1,370 a week. 62 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“She looked after my mum, who can be incredibly challenging, so well and so gently, and we always felt confident that my mum was getting the best care available.”
“She was not phased by anything, she was adaptable, kind & gave us complete confidence to go away & not worry about a thing!”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.