CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Brookfield Residential Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, May 2023
Rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found risks with medicines, fire safety, consent, the building and management, and issued two warning notices.
This was an unannounced inspection over two visits on 25 October and 22 November 2022. Inspectors reviewed care and medicines records, the building, training, policies and audits. They spoke with people, relatives, staff and visiting professionals.
The home had enough staff to keep people safe, and staff generally knew people well. Relatives and healthcare professionals gave positive feedback. However, risk assessments and care plans were not always accurate or up to date. Medicines were not always managed safely, and there were building, maintenance and fire safety concerns.
Inspectors also found that mental capacity assessments were not completed properly. Advice about eating and drinking was not always sought or followed. Some staff showed good skills, but staff practice was inconsistent. The home had not always identified these problems through its own checks.
The overall rating changed from Good to Requires Improvement. Safe, Effective and Well-led were all rated Requires Improvement. Caring and Responsive were not inspected during this visit, so the report used previous ratings for the overall score.
Staff knew people well
Staff generally understood the people they supported. Relatives said their loved ones were safe and well looked after.
“Staff knew people well and understood what signs to look for in behaviour which would concern them.” from the report
Enough staff on duty
Inspectors found enough staff were deployed to keep people safe, with supervision maintained where needed.
“There were enough staff deployed to keep people safe, staff handed over and ensured they did not leave an area of the home without staff supervision where this was required.” from the report
Positive relationships
People appeared comfortable with staff. Relatives described communication and staff attitudes positively.
“Another relative told us staff were, "well mannered, kind, caring, professional".” from the report
Good links with healthcare professionals
The home had positive working relationships with the local GP service and visiting professionals.
“There were good links with the GP with virtual ward rounds to review people's changing needs.” from the report
Risks and medicines
seriousSome risk assessments and care plans were out of date or inconsistent. Medicines records, stock checks and instructions for as-needed medicines were not always reliable.
“Some risks to people's individual health and safety were not fully assessed, and management plans were not always up to date or consistent” from the report
Building and fire safety
seriousThe building had maintenance and cleanliness problems. Fire safety arrangements had significant gaps, and some equipment and areas were not properly maintained.
“A recent fire safety audit by the fire service had highlighted several significant gaps in fire risk assessment and management” from the report
Consent and restrictions
seriousMental capacity assessments were not decision-specific. Some restrictions and consent records did not show that people's choices and legal rights had been properly considered.
“Assessment of people's capacity to make decisions was not in line with the MCA in that assessments were not decision-specific.” from the report
Eating and drinking support
needs fixingHealthcare advice about diets, fluid targets and swallowing risks was not always obtained or put into care plans. Inspectors also saw one staff member supporting several people to eat at once, although this had improved at the second visit.
“People were not always supported to eat and drink in a way which reduced risks and which promoted their dignity.” from the report
Weak management checks
needs fixingThe home's audits did not consistently identify problems found by inspectors or external professionals. Records were not always accurate, complete or current.
“Governance and oversight of the home required improvement.” from the report
- 01What has been done to make medicines records, stock checks and as-needed medicine instructions safe and complete?
- 02What changes have been made in response to the fire safety audit, and have all the identified actions been completed?
- 03How are decision-specific mental capacity assessments and best-interest decisions now recorded?
- 04How do you make sure advice about swallowing, diets and fluid targets is obtained, followed and recorded?
- 05What action plan is in place to improve audits, care records and oversight after the warning notices?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led, widened to include Effective; Caring and Responsive were not inspected and their previous ratings were used in calculating the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 May 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 2021
Brookfield Residential Home was inspected but not rated; infection-control arrangements were mostly reassuring, but cleaning records lacked detail and spray cleaning needed to stop.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 22 December 2020. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control because of coronavirus outbreaks in care homes.
Inspectors were assured about visitors, social distancing, admissions, protective equipment, testing, outbreak planning and the infection-control policy. The home had arrangements for screened visits and video calls with relatives.
There were two issues to improve. Staff were using spray cleaner despite guidance to avoid splashes and spray, and cleaning records did not contain enough detail. The manager said the spray would stop immediately and the records would be improved.
Safer visiting
The home used booked visits, checks before entry and a screened area. Relatives could also keep in touch by tablet when they could not visit.
“Family booked appointments to visit the home and saw their relatives in a protective screened area in the front lounge.” from the report
Support with PPE
Staff helped people understand why protective equipment was needed and listened to how they felt about the changes.
“Staff had spent time with people to help them to understand the need for personal protective equipment (PPE) and how they were feeling about the changes.” from the report
Staff testing
The provider followed the reported government guidance for weekly staff testing.
“The provider followed government guidance testing staff weekly.” from the report
Risk assessments
Inspectors found the manager had completed detailed risk assessments and carried out regular checks of cleaning arrangements.
“There were detailed and thorough risk assessments undertaken by the registered manager.” from the report
Spray cleaner
needs fixingStaff were using spray cleaner even though current best-practice guidance said to avoid creating splashes and spray. The manager said this would stop straight away.
“Staff were using a spray cleaner to prevent the spread of COVID-19 but current best practice guidance states "Avoid creating splashes and spray when cleaning.” from the report
Incomplete cleaning records
needs fixingCleaning checklists existed, but their records did not show enough detail. The manager said the recording would be improved.
“Cleaning checklists were in place but recording lacked detail.” from the report
- 01Have you stopped using spray cleaners, and what cleaning method is used now?
- 02How detailed are the cleaning records now, and who checks them?
- 03How are visits currently arranged, including screening and protective measures?
- 04How often are staff tested, and what happens if a test result is positive?
- 05How do you support residents who cannot receive visits in person?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control under Safe; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 January 2021 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 Brookfield Residential Home
4 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has slipped, from Good to Requires improvement.
- May 2023Requires improvementcurrent ratingSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- January 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2018Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 3 February 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
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.