CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Brierfields
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention, visitor screening, protective equipment, testing, outbreak management and vaccination checks. The provider also said it had measures to manage COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Good
- Not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- Not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Not assessed in this targeted inspection, although inspectors saw that visits were being facilitated in line with current guidance.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Not assessed in this targeted inspection, although the service sought advice from external agencies including the local health protection team.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Brierfields was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Inspectors visited on 7 February 2022. This was an announced, targeted inspection focused on infection prevention and control, visiting and COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
They found screening for visitors, enough protective equipment and staff training in infection control. The home was carrying out regular testing, responding promptly to positive results and supporting vaccination.
Inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed. Visits had restarted in line with guidance, and relatives were kept updated about changes, including positive COVID-19 cases.
Visitor screening
Visitors were screened at the front door. This included checking for a recent negative lateral flow test and COVID-19 symptoms.
“The service had a screening process in place at the front door, for all visitors to the home.” from the report
Protective equipment and training
There were sufficient supplies of protective equipment, staff wore it correctly and staff had completed relevant infection-control training.
“The home had sufficient supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE), which was worn correctly by staff.” from the report
Testing and outbreak response
Regular COVID-19 testing was available for staff and residents. The report says action was taken promptly after positive results.
“The home was accessing regular COVID-19 testing for staff and residents. Action was promptly taken when anyone tested positive.” from the report
Keeping families informed
Contact with relatives continued during the pandemic, and visits were reopening after a recent outbreak. Relatives were updated about changes to visiting.
“The provider was aware of the current guidance in place and kept people's relatives updated with any changes” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What measures are currently in place to manage staffing pressures caused by COVID-19?
- 02How are visitors screened, and what happens if there is a positive COVID-19 case?
- 03How often are staff and residents tested for COVID-19 now?
- 04How will the home keep our family updated if visiting arrangements change?
- 05How does the home check that visiting professionals meet its vaccination or exemption requirements?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated and the other quality questions were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 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.
What inspectors found, February 2020
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe care, but some medicines records and parts of the building needed improvement.
Inspectors visited without notice on 15 and 16 January 2020. They spoke with people living there, relatives, staff and a visiting professional. They reviewed care records, risk assessments and medicines records.
All five areas were rated Good. People were treated with kindness and respect. Inspectors found enough trained staff, personalised care plans, safe recruitment, good support with food and healthcare, and activities suited to people's interests.
There were some issues to address. Information about some medicines was not complete, food and drink records did not always show exact amounts, and parts of the building needed repair. Formal meetings and surveys had also not taken place regularly. The home had improved from Requires Improvement at the previous inspection and was no longer breaking regulations.
Kind relationships
Staff had built trusting relationships with people and treated them with dignity and respect.
“We observed many caring and positive interactions between staff and people throughout the inspection.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans recorded people's preferences, strengths and independence. Staff showed that they understood people's likes, dislikes and routines.
“Care plans were person-centred and contained specific individual details about people and how they wanted to be supported.” from the report
Enough staff
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs. People were attended to promptly, and recruitment checks were described as robust.
“There were enough staff to meet people's needs and we observed people being attended to in a timely manner.” from the report
Improvement since last inspection
The home improved from Requires Improvement to Good overall. The provider had completed an action plan and was no longer in breach of regulations.
“At this inspection enough improvement had been made, and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.” from the report
Medicines information
needs fixingSome medicines records were incomplete or needed updating. This included missing allergy information, unsigned handwritten records and incomplete directions for medicines given when needed.
“Two people's MAR's had been handwritten but there was no evidence of these being countersigned by a second staff member to ensure accuracy.” from the report
Food and drink records
needs fixingPeople received enough food and drink, but records did not always show the exact amounts. The deputy manager said more accurate records would be kept.
“These records showed what people had eaten and drank they did not always record the precise amount of food and drink each person had each day” from the report
Building repairs
needs fixingSome windows were cracked and held with tape. A laundry room lock was faulty, a toilet floor needed replacing, and some paint and wallpaper needed attention.
“Some areas of the home need improving, for example some windows had cracks in them and were secured with tape” from the report
Limited formal feedback
minorFormal group meetings had not happened regularly, and no formal annual questionnaires had been completed since the previous inspection. Management recognised that these should restart.
“However no formal annual questionnaires had been completed since the last inspection” from the report
- 01Have all medicines records been updated, including allergy information, countersignatures and instructions for medicines given when needed?
- 02How do you now record the precise amounts of food and drink for people who are at risk of not eating or drinking enough?
- 03Have the cracked windows, faulty laundry room lock, toilet flooring and peeling paint or wallpaper been repaired?
- 04Have regular meetings with people and relatives, and annual feedback surveys, been restarted?
- 05Who is currently responsible for managing the home, and what support is in place while a new registered manager is appointed?
This unannounced planned inspection looked at the premises and care provided and rated all five CQC questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 21 February 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 Brierfields
5 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Inadequate to Good.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- February 2020Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2019Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- December 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2017Requires improvementup from InadequateSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- November 2016InadequateSafe: InadequateEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 12 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.
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