CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Brook Court
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, March 2023
Brook Court was rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe care and improving leadership, but some risk and medicines records needed strengthening.
This was a focused inspection following concerns about management and staffing. Inspectors visited on 7 and 8 February 2023. They spoke with people, a relative and staff, and reviewed care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Caring and Well-led. People said care was kind and staff understood them. Inspectors found enough staff overall, safe recruitment, appropriate safeguarding systems and improving leadership.
There were some areas to improve. Risk guidance for some health conditions needed more detail. Guidance for some medicines and records showing staff medicines competence were not always available. Some people also experienced delays at busy times.
The overall rating stayed Good. Caring had reduced from Outstanding to Good since the previous inspection. Effective and Responsive were not inspected during this visit, so the report used their earlier ratings when calculating the overall rating.
Kind and respectful care
People described staff as caring and said they felt well looked after. Staff supported people's dignity, choices, faith and independence.
“People and the relative we spoke with emphasised how caring the current staff were.” from the report
Improving leadership
People and staff said leadership had improved. Senior staff were more visible, approachable and focused on people's needs.
“People, relatives and staff said this had now improved, and senior staff were now visible within the home” from the report
Safeguarding and risk awareness
Staff knew how to recognise and report abuse. Risks were identified and staff followed advice from health and social care professionals.
“Staff knew how to recognise and respond to any signs of abuse” from the report
Care involvement and choice
People and families were involved in care planning. People could make day-to-day choices about their care, rooms, food and activities.
“People told us either they or their families were consulted when their care plans were developed.” from the report
Learning from incidents
The home reviewed accidents, incidents and medicines recording errors. Learning was shared and care plans or risk assessments were considered for updating.
“The manager and provider promptly reviewed incidents and accidents and took appropriate actions to communicate any learning to staff.” from the report
Some risk guidance needed more detail
needs fixingInspectors found that management of risks linked to some health conditions could be improved. Guidance for transfers between services also needed further development.
“We found no evidence of harm to people, but the management of the risks for some people with a specific health condition, or diagnosis, could be further promoted.” from the report
Medicines records and guidance
needs fixingSome guidance for as-needed medicines, rescue medicines and creams needed improvement. Records confirming staff competence to administer medicines were not available, although the manager planned further checks.
“The manager had identified records of staff's competency to administer medicines were not available.” from the report
Occasional delays for support
minorThere were enough staff overall, but some people said they sometimes waited for help at busy times.
“However, some people told us they did occasionally experience delays at busy times.” from the report
Infection-control details
minorInspectors said the risk of infection spread could be reduced through consistent food labelling and minor maintenance to porous surfaces.
“We found the likelihood of the spread of infection could be further reduced through consistent labelling of food items and some minor maintenance to porous surfaces.” from the report
No registered manager in post
needs fixingThere was no registered manager at the time of inspection. The new manager was applying to become registered.
“At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post.” from the report
- 01What action has been completed to improve guidance for people with specific health conditions and for transfers between services?
- 02Have all staff medicines competency checks now been completed, and are the records available?
- 03How do you make sure staff have clear instructions for rescue medicines, creams and other as-needed medicines?
- 04What has been done to reduce delays for people needing help at busy times?
- 05Has the manager's application to become registered been completed?
This was a focused inspection of Safe, Caring and Well-led only; Effective and Responsive were not inspected and their previous ratings were used for the overall rating. 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, January 2020
Brook Court is rated Good overall; inspectors found outstanding caring relationships, with small improvements still planned for care records and end-of-life planning.
This was a planned inspection carried out on 28 November and 2 December 2019. The first visit was unannounced and the second was announced. Inspectors spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and a visiting health professional. They also observed care and checked care, medicine, staffing, complaint and quality records.
The home was rated Good for safe, effective, responsive and well-led care. It was rated Outstanding for caring, which was an improvement from Good at the previous inspection. Inspectors found kind and individual care, enough staff, safe medicines management, good activities and prompt access to health professionals.
The report identifies two areas the home planned to improve. These were checks to make sure clinical care was consistently recorded and considering a separate end-of-life care plan. The report does not say that any regulation was breached.
Exceptional personal care
Staff understood what mattered to people and used their life histories and preferences to support their wellbeing. People were treated as individuals and supported to make their own choices.
“People received exceptional care which improved their wellbeing from staff who considered and used their knowledge of what mattered to people, to provide individualised care.” from the report
Kind and respectful relationships
Inspectors found strong relationships between people and staff. Staff supported privacy, dignity, independence and contact with relatives.
“People had developed meaningful and caring relationships with staff who they described as very considerate and interested in their lives.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
People said there were enough staff, and inspectors found medicines were managed safely. Staffing levels were adjusted when people's needs changed.
“The provider was following safe protocols for the receipt and administration and disposal of medicines.” from the report
Good activities and communication
People could choose from many activities, social events and quieter one-to-one options. Staff also supported different communication needs, including through pictures, large print and technology.
“People chatted together enthusiastically about the activities which were provided, which included singing in their own choir, which was performed at the town hall, movie screenings, craft sessions, musical entertainment, poetry readings and talent contests.” from the report
End-of-life planning
minorThe manager was considering whether to introduce a separate end-of-life care plan. Families should ask how personal wishes are recorded, including what would happen after a sudden death.
“The registered manager was reviewing the appropriateness of introducing a separate end of life care plan, so they could be further assured people's preferences were known.” from the report
Clinical care records
minorThe home planned to develop its checks so that clinical care was recorded consistently. Ask how this improvement was followed through.
“The registered manager planned to further develop their checks to ensure clinical care provided was consistently recorded.” from the report
- 01How do you now make sure clinical care is recorded consistently?
- 02How are each person's end-of-life wishes recorded, including if their death is sudden?
- 03How do you adjust staffing when a person's mobility or care needs change?
- 04How will you support my relative's preferred communication method and activities?
- 05How will relatives be involved in reviewing care plans and changes in care needs?
This was a full inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the premises and the care provided; the previous overall rating was also reviewed. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 January 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 Brook Court
5 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodCaring: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- June 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2016Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2013
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 26 September 2013.
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.