CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Brandon Park Residential and Nursing Home
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm, and risks were assessed and managed. Inspectors found some gaps in medicine administration records for creams and lotions, occasional call bell delays and further work needed on some monitoring and recruitment records.
- Effective?
- Good
- People had their needs assessed and received suitable care, food, health support and equipment. Not all staff had planned one-to-one supervision sessions or annual appraisals, although staff said they felt supported.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- Staff were exceptionally kind and respectful. People were involved in decisions, treated as individuals, and supported to maintain their dignity, privacy and independence.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Care and activities were highly personalised. The home provided specialist support for people with memory loss, meaningful activities seven days a week, accessible information and responsive end-of-life care.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- Inspectors found strong leadership, open communication and well-established quality monitoring. There had been a recent change in management, but staff and relatives were positive about the new team.
What inspectors found, November 2022
Brandon Park Residential and Nursing Home is rated Outstanding; inspectors found exceptionally caring, responsive and well-led care, with some records and monitoring needing improvement.
This was an unannounced inspection carried out on 17, 18 and 25 October 2022. Inspectors spoke with people living in the home, staff and relatives. They also reviewed care records, medicine records, staff records and quality checks.
The overall rating was Outstanding. Caring, Responsive and Well-led were rated Outstanding. Safe and Effective were rated Good. People and relatives were very positive about the care, kindness, activities and leadership.
Inspectors found clear care and risk plans, suitable staffing, safe infection control and trained staff. However, there were gaps in records for creams and lotions, some handover monitoring was not up to date, and not all staff had planned supervision or appraisals.
The home was last rated Outstanding in November 2018. Caring improved from Good to Outstanding, while Responsive and Well-led remained Outstanding and Safe and Effective remained Good.
Kind and respectful care
Staff built trusting relationships and supported people with compassion. They respected personal choices, privacy, dignity and independence.
“We observed staff were highly motivated, offering care and support that was exceptionally compassionate and kind.” from the report
Personalised activities
Activities were planned around people's interests and histories. Staff also provided one-to-one support for people who stayed in their rooms.
“Activities staff were employed to provide a wide range of personalised activities covering seven days a week.” from the report
Support for memory loss
The Maple Memory Centre used a recognised model of care and specialist staff to help people living with memory loss remain independent.
“Care delivery was based on a nationally recognised best practice model for delivering care to people with memory loss, including those living with dementia.” from the report
Strong leadership
The management team promoted an open, inclusive culture. Quality checks, feedback and lessons from incidents were used to improve care.
“Governance and oversight of quality and safety continued to be well established.” from the report
Good partnership working
Staff worked with health and social care professionals, including GPs and specialist teams, when people's needs changed.
“The registered manager and staff worked effectively in partnership with others.” from the report
Medicine records
needs fixingThere were several missing staff signatures for creams and lotions. Some instructions were unclear, and most opening dates were not recorded.
“Where people were prescribed creams and lotions such as those to prevent skin damage, we found multiple gaps in staff signatures on medicines administration records (MAR) to evidence administration had taken place.” from the report
Handover monitoring
needs fixingSome handover records did not clearly show monitoring of bowel care and access to baths and showers. Daily monitoring audits were being introduced.
“Further work was needed to ensure handover records remained up to date with oversight of bowel monitoring and access to baths and showers evidenced.” from the report
Bathroom damage
needs fixingSeveral en-suite bath panels had sharp edges. The provider acted immediately and had plans to upgrade the en-suite facilities.
“We noted several en-suite bath panels were damaged and in need of replacement with sharp edges protruding.” from the report
Staff support records
minorNot all staff had received planned one-to-one supervision and annual appraisals. The home said these were being reintroduced.
“Not all staff received planned one to one individual supervision sessions and annual appraisals.” from the report
- 01What changes have been made to ensure every cream and lotion is recorded correctly on the medicines administration records?
- 02How are bowel monitoring and access to baths and showers now checked and recorded?
- 03Have all damaged en-suite bath panels been replaced, and when will the planned bathroom upgrades be completed?
- 04Are all staff now receiving regular one-to-one supervision and annual appraisals?
- 05How do you monitor call bell response times and staffing levels at busy periods?
This unannounced inspection considered all five CQC questions and included infection prevention and control checks, using observations, conversations and records reviewed during visits on three dates. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 November 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, February 2022
Brandon Park Residential and Nursing Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and visiting arrangements.
This was a targeted, announced inspection on 7 February 2022. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements, and whether COVID-19 staffing pressures were affecting the home.
Inspectors were assured that the home was using protective equipment safely, following testing and distancing arrangements, and managing admissions and possible outbreaks. The home was visibly clean, with extra cleaning of frequently touched areas.
Staff had up-to-date infection control training and there were plentiful supplies of protective equipment. Relatives were encouraged to visit, including through the essential caregiver role.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give a new overall rating or ratings for the quality of care in all five areas.
Infection control training
Staff had current training in infection control and in putting on and removing protective equipment.
“The provider and registered manager had ensured staff were skilled in infection prevention and control (IPC) practices.” from the report
Protective equipment
There were plentiful supplies of protective equipment in key areas of the home to support safe practice.
“There were plentiful supplies of PPE available and situated across various key areas in the home” from the report
Visiting arrangements
Relatives were encouraged to visit, and the essential caregiver role was supported to help people's wellbeing.
“Relatives were encouraged to visit their family members. The role of an essential caregiver was supported and welcomed” from the report
Clean environment
The home was visibly clean and hygienic, with extra cleaning of frequently touched areas.
“the service was visibly clean and hygienic. Frequently touched areas, such as door handles and handrails received enhanced and frequent cleaning.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What measures are currently in place to manage staffing pressures, and have these affected people's care?
- 02How does the essential caregiver arrangement work for relatives who want to visit?
- 03What infection control training have staff completed recently?
- 04How often are frequently touched areas cleaned, and how is this checked?
- 05What are the current arrangements for testing, protective equipment and visitors entering the home?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it did not rate the other four questions or give an overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 February 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.
Every inspection of Brandon Park Residential and Nursing Home
2 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Outstanding rating throughout.
- November 2022Outstandingcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
Read what inspectors found at Brandon Park Residential and Nursing Home →
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Brandon Park Residential and Nursing Home →
- November 2018OutstandingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- September 2017
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 28 September 2017.
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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