CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Brown Edge House Residential Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Requires improvement
- Inspectors were assured about visitors, admissions, testing and cleaning. They were only somewhat assured about shielding and social distancing and about PPE use.
- 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
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection-control arrangements, but some social distancing and PPE practices were not fully assured.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 24 February 2021. It looked at infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic, rather than the home's overall quality.
Inspectors found good arrangements for safe visiting, communication with relatives, testing, vaccinations, cleaning and access to PPE. They found the home clean and hygienic, with enhanced cleaning schedules in use.
There were two limitations. The home had one shared lounge and could not make changes to the building to improve social distancing. Two staff members were seen wearing cloth face masks. The service was inspected but not rated.
Safe contact with relatives
Residents could see and speak with loved ones in line with national guidance. Video and telephone calls were also available.
“Residents were able to see and speak to their loved ones safely and in line with the national guidance.” from the report
Testing and vaccination support
Staff were tested weekly and residents who were able and willing were tested monthly. Staff and residents were supported to access Covid-19 vaccinations.
“COVID-19 testing was undertaken weekly for all staff and monthly for residents who were able and willing.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean and hygienic. Enhanced cleaning schedules were being used.
“The home was clean and hygienic throughout and cleaning staff had enhanced cleaning schedules which were implemented.” from the report
PPE supplies
There was enough PPE of the right standard, and supplies were kept at a good level.
“There was a sufficient stock of the right standard of personal protective equipment (PPE) and stocks were well-maintained.” from the report
Limited space for distancing
needs fixingThe building could not be adjusted and residents shared one lounge. Inspectors were therefore only somewhat assured that shielding and social distancing rules were being met.
“It had not been possible to make adjustments to the property and there was only one lounge where residents gathered together.” from the report
Incorrect face masks
needs fixingTwo staff members were seen wearing cloth face masks instead of the appropriate PPE observed on other staff.
“However, two members of staff were seen to be wearing cloth face masks.” from the report
- 01How do you manage use of the single shared lounge to reduce infection risks and support social distancing?
- 02What has been done to make sure all staff use the correct PPE, after two staff members were seen wearing cloth face masks?
- 03How often are staff and residents currently tested, and how are vaccination decisions supported?
- 04How can relatives visit safely, and what video or telephone contact is available if an in-person visit is not possible?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control under the Safe question only; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 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, December 2018
Brown Edge House Residential Home was rated Good overall, but Safe was Requires Improvement because some safety systems were not yet fully reliable.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 26 and 28 November 2018. The inspector spoke with residents, relatives, staff and health professionals. They also observed care, checked the building and reviewed care plans, medicines records, staff files and other records.
The home was rated Good overall. Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led were all rated Good. People and relatives described the home as safe, caring and homely. Inspectors saw patient and respectful staff, enough staff on duty, good food, clean surroundings and care based on people's choices.
Safe was rated Requires Improvement. Inspectors found that some environmental risks, including window restrictors, wedged-open fire doors and a bed lever, had not been identified or managed promptly. Medicines systems had improved, but some changes were not firmly established and PRN medicine instructions had not been formally recorded.
Flexible personal care
Staff followed people's routines, preferences and choices. Mealtimes, bedtime and activities could be adapted to individual needs.
“The registered provider understood the importance of providing flexible, person-centred care.” from the report
Health and nutrition support
The home worked with health professionals and monitored people's health. Meals offered choice and were adapted to people's needs.
“We saw evidence of input from a variety of health and social care professionals to promote people's health.” from the report
Positive leadership
People, relatives and staff had confidence in the new registered manager. Audits, training and improvement work had started.
“Relatives and staff told us they had seen a noted improvement at the home since the new registered manager had come into post.” from the report
Environmental safety checks
seriousInspectors found problems with window restrictors, fire doors being wedged open and the use of a bed lever without a risk assessment. The home said these issues were corrected after the inspection.
“However, environmental risks were not always proactively identified and managed.” from the report
Medicines records
needs fixingMedicines management had improved, but the changes were not yet firmly established. PRN medicine instructions were not formally recorded in one person's care record until inspectors raised the issue.
“Although improvements had been made these were not yet firmly embedded.” from the report
Care documentation
needs fixingSome important health information, capacity assessments and best interest decisions were not consistently recorded. The manager said records were being reviewed and updated.
“Although staff were aware of the principles of the MCA, care records did not consistently reflect the processes to be followed.” from the report
- 01How do you now check window restrictors, fire doors and bed levers, and how often are these checks recorded?
- 02How do you make sure PRN medicines have clear protocols in each person's care records?
- 03How do you check that medicines storage, administration and competency checks remain safe and up to date?
- 04How are capacity assessments and best interest decisions recorded and reviewed?
- 05What audits have been completed since the inspection, and what further improvements are still under way?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions and both the premises and the care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 December 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 Brown Edge House Residential Home
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Brown Edge House Residential Home →
- December 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Brown Edge House Residential Home →
- April 2016GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 2 August 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.
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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of St. Helens
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. 92 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.”
“It was clear that she genuinely cared and her warm approach really helped put our minds at ease.”
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.