CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Brooklands Nursing and Care Home
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Staff managed risks, medicines and staffing safely, although the process for sharing lessons after a recent accident had not been fully followed.
- Effective?
- Outstanding
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its rating was carried over from the previous inspection, but that rating is not stated in the report text provided.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its rating was carried over from the previous inspection, but that rating is not stated in the report text provided.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its rating was carried over from the previous inspection, but that rating is not stated in the report text provided.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home was managed in a person-centred way and staff worked well with professionals. However, audits had missed minor record issues and there was no registered manager in post.
What inspectors found, November 2022
Rated Outstanding overall; inspectors found safe, highly person-centred care, but leadership and record-keeping needed improvement.
This was an unannounced, focused inspection on 30 September 2022. Inspectors looked only at Safe and Well-led. They spoke with people, staff, relatives and professionals, observed care, checked the home and reviewed care, medicines and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe medicines arrangements, suitable risk assessments, a clean and maintained environment, and appropriate infection control arrangements. They found no evidence that people were harmed by the concerns about falls and post-fall management that prompted part of the inspection.
The home was rated Good for Well-led. Care was described as kind, personalised and focused on people's complex needs. However, the process for sharing lessons after an accident had not been fully followed, audits had missed some minor record issues, and there was no registered manager at the time.
The overall rating remained Outstanding because ratings for areas not inspected were carried over from the previous inspection. The previous overall rating was also Outstanding, published on 2 April 2019.
Person-centred care
The home focused on people's individual needs and supported people to have choice and control wherever possible.
“People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests” from the report
Safe staffing
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs. Recruitment checks were in place, and staff had the training and skills needed for their roles.
“There were enough staff on duty to meet people's needs safely.” from the report
Safe medicines and risk management
Staff understood people's risk plans and medicines were given safely by trained and assessed staff.
“Medicines were managed safely and properly. People received their medicines when they should.” from the report
Good partnership working
Staff worked with outside professionals and followed guidance to support people with complex needs.
“Staff worked in partnership with external professionals. They ensured people's needs were met through ongoing review of their care” from the report
Positive feedback
People, relatives and professionals gave strong feedback about the care and how well staff knew the people living there.
“Care staff are extremely knowledgeable about people and follow guidance and regimes.” from the report
Learning from accidents
needs fixingThe home had a process for reviewing accidents, but it had not been fully followed after a recent accident. CQC recommended reviewing how lessons are shared with staff.
“However, the process had not been followed fully after a recent accident.” from the report
Quality checks and records
needs fixingAudits did not always identify areas for improvement. Inspectors found minor problems in care records and recommended that the quality checks be operated more effectively.
“Audits had not always highlighted areas for improvement.” from the report
Use of PPE
minorInspectors were only somewhat assured that personal protective equipment was being used effectively and safely. They signposted the provider to further resources.
“We were somewhat assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
No registered manager
needs fixingThe registered manager had recently left. A manager from another home was running the service while the provider recruited a replacement.
“The service did not have a registered manager.” from the report
- 01What changes have you made to ensure lessons from accidents are shared with all staff?
- 02What minor care-record problems did inspectors find, and how have you checked that they are now corrected?
- 03Who is the registered manager now, and what arrangements are in place until that person is appointed?
- 04What have you changed to make sure PPE is used effectively and safely?
- 05How are you improving fire drills and practice evacuations?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other key-question ratings were carried over from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 November 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, April 2019
Rated Outstanding; inspectors found exceptional care and leadership, with the service rated Good for safety.
This was a comprehensive inspection carried out on 24 and 31 January 2019. The first day was unannounced and the second was announced. Inspectors reviewed care and medicines records, staffing and training records, the building, and how care was delivered. They spoke with people, visitors, staff and health professionals.
The home was rated Outstanding overall. It was rated Outstanding for effective care, caring, responsiveness and leadership. It was rated Good for safety. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe medicines practice, good infection control and suitable risk assessments.
Inspectors saw highly personalised care for people with complex nursing needs. Staff monitored health closely, supported people to take part in activities and helped families stay involved. Since the previous inspection in June 2016, the overall rating had improved from Good to Outstanding.
Complex nursing care
Staff were highly skilled in supporting people with complex health needs. They worked persistently with other professionals and acted quickly when people's health changed.
“Staff excelled in the way they monitored people's health and acted proactively on any concerns.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors saw frequent, friendly and attentive interactions. Staff used communication methods suited to each person and protected privacy and dignity.
“People indicated staff were exceptionally caring, compassionate, respectful and empowering.” from the report
Personalised activities
Staff matched activities to people's interests, including football, horse racing, films, planes and music. They observed people's reactions and adapted activities accordingly.
“Staff tirelessly sought activities which matched people's interests.” from the report
Family involvement
Families were welcomed and involved in care planning and reviews. Visits could take place privately, and staff provided emotional and practical support to relatives.
“Family relationships and friendships were encouraged and visits could take place in privacy if people wished.” from the report
Strong training and leadership
Staff received frequent specialist training, supervision and support. Managers were visible, approachable and focused on improving people's wellbeing.
“The management team were hands on, visible, available for support and taught their staff team by example.” from the report
Planned manager change
minorThe registered manager was due to cancel their registration after being promoted. An experienced staff member was already managing the home, but families may want to check how the change was completed.
“The service was planning a change of registered manager when we inspected as the current registered manager had been promoted within the company.” from the report
- 01Who is now the registered manager, and how was the planned management change completed?
- 02How would you meet my relative's specific nursing needs, including any PEG, tracheostomy, suction or other specialist care?
- 03How would you support my relative to communicate their choices if they cannot speak or communicate voluntarily?
- 04What activities could you provide that match my relative's interests, and how would you know whether they enjoyed them?
- 05How would you involve our family in care planning, reviews, hospital appointments and end-of-life decisions?
This was a comprehensive inspection of the whole service, including the premises and care provided, and it checked the overall quality and all five key questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 April 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 Brooklands Nursing and Care Home
3 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- November 2022Outstandingcurrent ratingstayed OutstandingSafe: GoodEffective: OutstandingCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Brooklands Nursing and Care Home →
- April 2019Outstandingup from GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Outstanding
Read what inspectors found at Brooklands Nursing and Care Home →
- July 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2012
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 June 2012.
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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Most charge £980 to £1,250 a week. 31 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
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