CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Brookfield
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home was using protective equipment safely, carrying out testing, maintaining hygiene and managing infection outbreaks. This was a targeted infection prevention and control inspection, so the service was not given a safety rating.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, March 2021
Brookfield was inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control and arrangements for keeping people in contact with relatives.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 17 March 2021. It checked how well the home was prepared to prevent and control COVID-19 infections.
Inspectors found staff using the correct protective equipment and following infection control procedures. The home was clean, hygienic and free from unpleasant smells. Testing, cleaning and arrangements for managing possible infections were in place.
Staffing was managed effectively, with a consistent staff team and no need for agency staff. Relatives were supported to keep in touch through phone calls, Skype and indoor visits in a dedicated safe space.
The home was inspected but not rated. This report only gives findings about infection prevention and control, so it does not provide a new overall quality rating.
Infection control
Staff followed infection prevention procedures and used the correct protective equipment. They also had the required training.
“Staff were observed complying with infection prevention and control (IPC) procedures; staff were wearing the correct PPE and were supported with the required IPC training.” from the report
Clean surroundings
The home was clean, hygienic and free from unpleasant smells. Hand sanitiser and wipes were available throughout the home.
“The home was clean, hygienic and odour free; people, staff and visitors had access to hand sanitizers and wipes throughout the home.” from the report
Stable staffing
Staffing levels were managed effectively, with a consistent team supporting people and no agency staff needed.
“Staffing levels were effectively managed; measures were in place to ensure people were supported by a consistent staff team; no agency staff were required at the home.” from the report
Contact with relatives
The home supported people to keep in touch with relatives through calls, Skype and indoor visits in a dedicated safe space.
“Regular phone calls and Skype calls were taking place; the provider had also created a safe space for dedicated visits to take place indoors.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you continuing to check that staff use protective equipment correctly?
- 02How often are infection control procedures and cleaning schedules reviewed?
- 03What testing arrangements are currently in place for people living here and for staff?
- 04How can relatives visit or keep in contact with someone living here now?
- 05What is the current overall CQC rating, given that this inspection was not rated?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; it did not provide new ratings for the other areas of care. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 March 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.
What inspectors found, March 2018
Brookfield is rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with all five areas rated Good.
Inspectors visited on 1 and 7 February 2018. The first visit was unannounced and the second was announced. They spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff, the manager and a healthcare professional. They also checked care records, medicines records, staff files, complaints and management records.
They found that people felt safe and were supported by enough trained staff. Medicines, recruitment, infection control, equipment and health and safety checks were managed safely. Care plans and risk assessments gave staff clear guidance and were updated when people's needs changed.
People received care that respected their choices, privacy and dignity. Staff supported people's health, food and drink needs, activities, community links and end-of-life wishes. The home had systems for listening to people, handling complaints and checking the quality of care.
The home remained Good, the same as at the previous inspection. This means inspectors found that it met all the requirements of the fundamental standards at the time of this inspection.
People felt safe
People and relatives said they felt safe and secure. Inspectors found clear safeguarding arrangements, enough staff and well-managed risks.
“People told us they felt safe and secure living at the home.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Staff knew people well and treated them with patience, kindness and empathy. People's privacy and dignity were respected.
“We saw on many occasions staff offering comfort to a person who was very upset due to a recent bereavement.” from the report
Good support for health
The home worked with healthcare professionals and supported people's dietary and swallowing needs. Staff training covered relevant health needs.
“The service worked with dieticians and speech and language therapists where concerns had been identified around weight loss or swallowing.” from the report
Activities and community links
People had many activities to choose from and opportunities to connect with local groups and organisations.
“People living at the home had many opportunities to engage in activities of their choice” from the report
Listening and improving
People could share their views and requests. Inspectors found that management acted on suggestions and used audits to improve the service.
“These requests had all been promptly actioned by the management team.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you assess and review my relative's care needs if they change?
- 02How will you support my relative's particular dietary, swallowing or health needs?
- 03Which activities and community visits would suit my relative's interests and abilities?
- 04How will you involve our family in care planning and decisions about treatment?
- 05How are medicines checked and how will you tell us about any changes or concerns?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 March 2018 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
3 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- March 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2015Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 15 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
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Warrington
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. 90 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“He developed a close affinity with Terence, spending time talking with him before he retired to bed and looking after his needs during the night.”
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.