CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at BrendonCare Otterbourne Hill
Not yet rated: the CQC has not published a rated inspection for this home, which is usual for a new registration.
What inspectors found, July 2019
BrendonCare Otterbourne Hill rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and responsive care, with some communication and personalisation issues.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 23 and 25 April 2019. It was brought forward because the local authority and an anonymous source had raised concerns about the quality of care. Inspectors spoke with people, relatives, staff and healthcare professionals, observed care, and checked care records, medicines, staffing, complaints and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough suitably trained staff, safe medicines systems, respectful care, good support with food and healthcare, and activities for people and the wider community.
There were some areas to improve. Some families did not always feel listened to, some staff did not always know people's preferences, and newer care plans needed more detail. Some families were also not satisfied with responses to complaints. The home had identified actions to improve these areas.
Safe staffing
Inspectors found enough suitably qualified staff to keep people safe. Recruitment had improved staffing levels and reduced reliance on agency workers at the time of the inspection.
“There were sufficient, appropriately qualified and skilled staff deployed to keep people safe.” from the report
Safe medicines
Staff were trained and checked as competent to give medicines. Records, storage and audits supported safe medicines management.
“Medicines were stored safely and were audited to ensure they were administered correctly and were accounted for.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff were observed speaking to people as equals, not rushing them, and supporting them gently. People were helped to express their views and make choices.
“We observed staff treating people in a respectful way.” from the report
Activities and community links
The home offered one-to-one and group activities, exercise classes and events involving the local community. Inspectors saw activities suited to people's interests and abilities.
“We observed a range of activities being offered from one-to-one sessions and group sessions to exercise classes with members of the community.” from the report
Good healthcare working
The home had a strong relationship with its GP surgery and sought timely help from other healthcare services. Inspectors received positive feedback about the home's responsiveness.
“The service had a good relationship with their GP surgery and had a nominated GP who attended the service at least twice a week.” from the report
Care plan detail
needs fixingSome newer care plans needed more information about people's routines, likes and dislikes. This mattered because staff and agency workers used these plans to provide personalised care.
“Some care plans, particularly of newer residents, would benefit further detail relating to people's individual routines, likes and dislikes.” from the report
Complaints responses
needs fixingThe complaints process was in place, but some families were not satisfied with how their complaints had been answered.
“People's families knew how to raise a complaint or concern should they need to, though some were not satisfied with the response to their complaints.” from the report
External engagement
minorOne healthcare organisation said the home had not yet taken part in forums or training that had been made available to it. The manager said relationships with other agencies were being developed.
“The clinical commissioning group fed back that the service had not yet engaged in forums or training made available to them.” from the report
- 01How have you improved communication with relatives since the inspection, and how can families raise concerns directly with the manager?
- 02How do you make sure new people's routines, likes and dislikes are recorded in enough detail?
- 03How do you ensure agency staff read and follow each person's care plan and preferences?
- 04What has changed in staffing levels and agency worker use since the inspection?
- 05How do you check that complaints receive a response that families are satisfied with?
This was the first unannounced comprehensive inspection since registration and covered all five CQC questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 July 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 BrendonCare Otterbourne Hill
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- July 2019Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at BrendonCare Otterbourne Hill →
- August 2018
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 8 August 2018.
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
26 live-in carers within about an hour of Hampshire
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 £1,260 a week. 23 can care for a couple. 14 years' experience on average.
“I cannot recommend Prisca highly enough, she is one in a million.”
“He stayed with her throughout the pandemic, refusing to visit his own family, who lived nearby, to reduce the risk of infection.”
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.