CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Brunel House
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found robust safeguarding systems, suitable staffing, thorough recruitment checks and clear plans for managing individual risks. Medicines were stored and recorded safely, and infection control arrangements were effective.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed before they moved in and staff received training linked to their needs. Inspectors found good support with eating, health care, accessible facilities and consent.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- Staff were exceptionally kind and respectful. People were supported to express themselves, make choices, maintain dignity and become more independent.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Support was highly personalised around people's wishes, communication and goals. People were helped to try new experiences, keep relationships and take part in community activities.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- Inspectors found visible leadership, an open and empowering culture and strong systems for checking quality. The home acted on feedback and showed a sustained focus on improvement.
What inspectors found, January 2023
Rated Outstanding; inspectors found exceptionally caring, responsive and well-led support, with safe and effective care rated Good.
This was the first inspection since the home registered. One inspector visited on 30 November and 5 December 2022, and the inspection activity ended on 14 December. Inspectors spoke with or received feedback from six residents, relatives, professionals and staff. They also observed care, medicines administration and meals, and checked records such as care plans, risk assessments and audits.
Inspectors found that people were safe, with suitable staffing, risk plans, safeguarding systems, recruitment checks and medicines records. Infection prevention arrangements were also judged effective. Care was rated Good because people's needs were assessed, staff were trained and people received suitable support with food, health and consent.
The strongest findings were about kindness, choice and personal goals. Staff helped people communicate, become more independent, keep relationships and take part in activities they wanted. Caring, responsive and well-led were rated Outstanding because inspectors found exceptional respect, personalised support, leadership and continuous improvement.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors found a warm, homely atmosphere where staff treated people with dignity and took time to understand their individual needs.
“People were treated with respect. This thread of respect for people living in their home ran through every staff member we spoke with or had feedback from.” from the report
Personal goals and choice
People were supported to achieve goals and try experiences that mattered to them, including holidays, community activities and living with friends.
“People had individual goals and their aspirations were woven into their daily support and care planning.” from the report
Communication support
Staff used different communication methods and learned specialist approaches so people could express their wishes and make choices.
“Staff supporting one person all learned British Sign Language and to use Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), a pictorial form of communication to offer choice.” from the report
Safe medicines practice
The records checked were complete and accurate. Staff were trained and medicines were administered calmly, with explanations given to the person.
“MAR were complete, accurate and up to date.” from the report
Strong oversight
The home had detailed checks covering care and day-to-day operations. Inspectors found that issues were acted on quickly and learning was shared.
“There was an exceptionally robust system of audits in place to cover all aspects of care delivery and day to day running of the service” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you assess and support my relative's particular health needs, including any emergency medicines or specialist equipment?
- 02How would you help my relative communicate choices, preferences or discomfort?
- 03What personal goals could my relative work towards, and how would progress be recorded?
- 04How would you support my relative to keep in contact with family and take part in activities outside the home?
- 05What training do staff have for my relative's needs, and how is their competence checked?
This was the first inspection and covered all five key questions, the premises, care provided and infection prevention and control arrangements. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 January 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, February 2022
Brunel House was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good COVID-19 infection control, visiting arrangements and staffing plans.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 02 February 2022. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and staffing pressures linked to COVID-19. They gave the home 24 hours' notice.
Inspectors were assured that the home was using protective equipment safely, managing hygiene and cleaning, supporting visits and helping people access health services. They also found up-to-date COVID-19 policies and plans to manage staffing pressures.
The overall service and Safe question were marked "Inspected but not rated". This was not a full inspection of all five areas, so the report does not provide a new overall quality rating.
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had effective arrangements to prevent and manage infections. This included PPE, handwashing, cleaning, testing and up-to-date policies.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Family visits
The home supported visits in line with current guidance. When visits were restricted, staff helped people keep in touch through social media, garden visits and phone calls.
“The provider was facilitating visits for people living in the home in accordance with current guidance.” from the report
Protective equipment
There was enough suitable PPE for people, staff and visitors. The home also displayed guidance on using and disposing of it safely.
“The provider ensured enough stock of appropriate protective equipment (PPE) was available for people, staff and visitors.” from the report
Staffing plans
The provider had recruitment and contingency plans intended to keep staffing levels safe during a COVID-19 outbreak.
“The providers recruitment process and contingency planning helped ensure staffing levels remained safe in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak in the service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are visits currently managed, and what happens if infection guidance changes?
- 02How do you make sure there is enough PPE and that staff use and dispose of it correctly?
- 03How would you maintain safe staffing levels during an outbreak or staff shortage?
- 04How do you support residents to keep in touch with relatives if an in-person visit is not possible?
- 05What are the current ratings and findings for Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led, which were not assessed in this inspection?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it did not provide new ratings for the other areas. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 February 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.
Every inspection of Brunel House
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- January 2023Outstandingcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- August 2019
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 10 August 2019.
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
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9 live-in carers within about an hour of Plymouth
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.
8 can care for a couple. 9 years' experience on average.
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.