CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Breme Residential Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People and relatives said people felt safe. Medicines, risk assessments, safeguarding training and recruitment checks were managed safely, although support at mealtimes had not always been timely on one floor.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this focused inspection. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this focused inspection. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this focused inspection. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had effective audits and staff felt supported by the management team. Some relatives said communication could be improved, and there had been low staff morale during changes in management.
What inspectors found, March 2023
Breme Residential Care Home is rated Good; inspectors found safe, well-led care, with some communication and environment issues to monitor.
This was an unannounced, focused inspection on 1 and 2 March 2023. Inspectors looked mainly at safety and leadership because concerns had been raised about staffing and the culture of the home. They spoke with people living there, relatives and staff, observed care, and checked care, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. People and relatives said people felt safe. Medicines, safeguarding, risk checks, staff recruitment and infection control were generally managed well. Inspectors found no evidence that the concerns raised had put people at risk of harm.
There were some areas to watch. People on one floor had not always received timely support at mealtimes because of a kitchen staff shortage, although the home said this had been resolved. Some kitchenette cupboards were damaged, and a few relatives said communication was not good enough. The overall Good rating includes ratings carried forward from the previous inspection for areas not inspected this time.
People felt safe
People and relatives told inspectors that people were safe and well looked after. Staff had training to recognise and report abuse.
“People said they felt safe in the home.” from the report
Safe medicines practice
People said medicines were given on time. Staff were trained and their competence was checked regularly.
“Medicines were managed safely and in line with the homes policies and procedures.” from the report
Good oversight
The management team carried out audits, reviewed risks and had an action plan for improvements to the building.
“Effective audits were taking place and being reviewed regularly to support quality improvement.” from the report
Positive culture
Most people, relatives and staff described a friendly or supportive atmosphere. Staff said they enjoyed working at the home.
“It's an open, welcoming and supportive atmosphere.” from the report
Mealtime delays
needs fixingPeople on one floor had not always received timely support during meals because of a shortage of kitchen staff. The home said this had been resolved after the kitchen became fully staffed.
“People were not always supported by staff in a timely way during mealtimes on one floor of the home.” from the report
Damaged kitchenette cupboards
minorSome cupboards were chipped, meaning one area could not be cleaned effectively. The home said the problem had been reported and would be repaired.
“Some of the cupboards in a kitchenette on one floor were chipped so effective cleaning in one area could not take place.” from the report
Communication with relatives
minorA few relatives said information was not readily available and staff did not always seem to know what was happening. The new manager said face-to-face meetings were being offered.
“Information is not readily available. Staff don't seem to know what's going on.” from the report
- 01Has the kitchen staff shortage been resolved, and how do you check that people receive timely support at mealtimes?
- 02Have the chipped kitchenette cupboards been repaired, and how are cleaning standards checked while repairs are outstanding?
- 03How will relatives receive regular information about changes in people's care and daily life?
- 04Who is currently managing the home while the new manager completes induction and applies for registration?
- 05What improvements have been made to staff morale since the changes in management?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings were carried over from the previous inspection in 2019. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 March 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, October 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with all five areas rated Good.
This was an unannounced planned inspection on 2 October 2019. Two inspectors and an Expert by Experience spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and visiting health professionals. They also reviewed care, medicines, training and management records.
The inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems and suitable checks to protect people. People were supported with food, healthcare, activities and decisions about their care. Staff were described as kind, respectful and supportive of people's independence.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The previous inspection rating was also Good, published on 12 April 2017, so the ratings had remained the same.
Enough staff
Inspectors found there were enough staff to meet people's physical and social needs. Recruitment records also showed checks had been completed before staff started work.
“People were supported by enough staff to meet their physical and social needs.” from the report
Safe medicines
Medicines were managed through organised systems, including safe arrangements for receiving, storing, giving and disposing of medicines.
“Medicines systems were organised, and people received their medicines when they should.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People described positive relationships with staff. Inspectors found that staff respected people's privacy, choices, dignity and independence.
“People told us they had made friends whilst living at the home and said staff were kind, caring and attentive to them.” from the report
Activities and social life
People could take part in activities such as quizzes and crafts, and visiting entertainers came to the home. People were also supported to spend time in the garden.
“People enjoyed a variety of daily activities, such as quizzes and crafts.” from the report
Management and improvement
The management team used audits, questionnaires, meetings and reviews of incidents to monitor the service and identify improvements.
“The management team completed a range of quality audits on a regular basis and we saw actions were identified and addressed to make improvements.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How many staff are on duty now, and how do you make sure there are enough staff for people's physical and social needs?
- 02How do you check that medicines are given at the right time and that records remain accurate?
- 03What activities are available now, and how do you support people to follow their personal interests and routines?
- 04How are a new resident's communication needs and preferences recorded and shared with staff?
- 05How will you record and respect my relative's wishes about end of life care?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, and the home was rated Good in each area. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 October 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 Breme Residential Care Home
4 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2015GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 10 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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Worcestershire
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 £980 to £1,260 a week. 85 can care for a couple. 9 years' experience on average.
“I have never met a person who is so kind and thinks about others before himself to such an extent as Chris Malagala.”
“She was very caring, kind and patient to all his needs, she built up a wondetful rapport with him, she was dedicated and was there for him through good times as well as through the tough times”
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.