CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Flexible Support Options Limited (Brilan)
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found detailed risk assessments, safeguarding systems and enough staff to meet people's needs. Medicines were managed safely, and infection control arrangements were effective.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not inspected in this report. Its previous rating was carried forward when calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not inspected in this report. Its previous rating was carried forward when calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not inspected in this report. Its previous rating was carried forward when calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found that management reviewed the service, acted on incidents and promoted a positive, person-centred culture. This rating improved from Requires Improvement at the previous inspection.
What inspectors found, January 2024
Flexible Support Options Limited (Brilan) was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind care and improved leadership, with refurbishment work still under way.
This was an unannounced inspection over three days. The inspector and an expert by experience met all four people living there, contacted relatives and healthcare professionals, spoke with staff and reviewed care, medicines, staff and management records.
The home was rated Good overall. Inspectors found people were safe, supported by enough trained staff and given their medicines safely. Staff understood people's needs, protected their dignity and helped them make choices and pursue their goals.
The inspection looked only at Safe and Well-led. Both were rated Good. The other three question ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection, so they were not reassessed in this report.
People's safety
People said they felt safe. Staff understood safeguarding and how to reduce risks, and the manager acted quickly when inspectors suggested improvements.
“People confirmed they felt safe using the service.” from the report
Choice and independence
Staff supported people to make decisions, communicate in ways that suited them and work towards their own goals and aspirations.
“People were supported to have maximum possible choice, control and independence.” from the report
Kind, tailored care
Care was described as compassionate and respectful. Staff understood people's individual needs and promoted their wellbeing and enjoyment of life.
“People received kind and compassionate care.” from the report
Improved leadership
Management systems had improved, and the Well-led rating rose from Requires Improvement to Good. The manager and staff involved people and families in care discussions.
“At this inspection the rating has changed to good.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff during the day and night. Staff were trained and assessed as competent to give medicines.
“There were enough staff to safely care for people.” from the report
Refurbishment still in progress
minorThe home had identified the need for major environmental improvements, including a new kitchen, windows and full redecoration. Some work had started, but the report does not say that all the work was complete.
“The provider had reviewed the environment and put in place a refurbishment plan, which would lead to the complete redecorating of the home, including installation of a new kitchen and windows.” from the report
- 01What refurbishment work has been completed since the inspection, and when will the new kitchen, windows and redecoration be finished?
- 02What arrangements are in place if the lift breaks down or other mechanical failures affect access to the home?
- 03How will staff support the person to make choices, communicate and work towards their own goals?
- 04How are medicines checked and staff competence reassessed?
- 05How will my relative and our family be involved in reviews of their care and support needs?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 January 2024 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, August 2018
Rated Good overall; inspectors found kind, safe and responsive care, but medicines checks and records needed improvement.
Inspectors visited on 25 July 2018. They spoke with three people, the registered manager and two support workers. They reviewed care records, medicine records, staff files and the way the home was managed.
The home supported up to four people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities or mental health conditions. Three people were living there during the inspection. People said they felt safe and were treated with kindness, dignity and respect.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring and Responsive. It was rated Requires Improvement for Well-led because medicine records had gaps and the home's audits had not found these problems. The overall rating remained Good, as it had been at the previous inspection in February 2016.
People felt safe
People said they felt safe, and inspectors found suitable staffing, recruitment checks, risk assessments and safeguarding procedures.
“People we spoke with told us they felt safe living at Brilan.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
People described staff as caring and respectful. Inspectors saw a relaxed atmosphere and support for people's dignity and independence.
“People found staff were attentive, showed compassion, were patient and had developed good working relationships with them.” from the report
Personalised support
Care records included people's histories, preferences, needs and the support staff should provide. People and outside professionals were involved in reviewing plans.
“Each person's care record included important information about the person, such as family history, things they enjoyed doing and their personal care needs.” from the report
Community activities
People were supported to avoid social isolation and to take part in activities both at the home and in the community.
“People were supported to access a range of social and leisure opportunities in the community.” from the report
Gaps in medicine records
seriousInspectors found gaps in medicine administration records. The report says these recording problems could affect assurance that medicines were given safely, even though staff were observed administering medicines correctly.
“We found some gaps in the recording of medicines and this had not been picked up on the monthly audits completed.” from the report
Audits did not identify problems
needs fixingThe home's medicine audits stated that photographs were present when they were not. A separate audit had recorded that medicine guidance was unavailable, but no action had been taken for a year.
“We saw in relation to medicines that the last two monthly audits had not picked up gaps in medicine administration records (MAR) that we found” from the report
Some support plan information needed more detail
minorInspectors said records could include more information about cultural background, sexuality and relationships. The provider said it was changing support plans to cover these areas in more depth.
“We discussed with the registered manager that support plans could contain further information to ensure issues relating to people's cultural background and their sexual orientation was well recorded.” from the report
- 01What changes have you made to medicine administration records since the inspection, and how do you check that every dose is recorded?
- 02How do you now check that medicine audits identify and correct missing information?
- 03What approved medicine guidance do staff use, following the removal of the British National Formulary question from the audit?
- 04How have support plans been updated to record people's cultural background, sexuality and relationships?
- 05How are people and outside professionals involved when care plans and risk assessments are reviewed?
The inspection covered all five CQC questions, but the report was written in a shorter format because the overall rating had not changed since the previous inspection in February 2016. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 August 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 Flexible Support Options Limited (Brilan)
3 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2024Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Flexible Support Options Limited (Brilan) →
- August 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
Read what inspectors found at Flexible Support Options Limited (Brilan) →
- April 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 15 May 2014.
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
36 live-in carers within about an hour of Newcastle upon Tyne
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 £950 to £1,160 a week. 30 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Petty introduced herself to Mum every time she was caring for her and responded very quickly to Mum if she was distressed in 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.