CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Millbrook Care Centre
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from avoidable harm through risk assessments, environmental checks, sufficient staffing and safe recruitment. Medicines were safely stored and recorded, although a small number of staff had out-of-date competency assessments, which were addressed immediately.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed and staff received the training and support needed for their roles. Dietary needs and healthcare referrals were managed well, although one person's advice was not fully included in their care plan until inspectors raised it.
- Caring?
- Good
- People and families described staff as kind and caring. Inspectors found that privacy, dignity, independence, equality and involvement in care decisions were consistently considered.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's needs and preferences. People had access to activities, community trips and support with communication, and complaints and concerns were investigated.
- Well-led?
- Good
- People, families and staff felt able to raise concerns and share ideas. Quality checks were in place, improvements were recorded and acted on, and the manager was visible and approachable.
What inspectors found, September 2023
Millbrook Care Centre was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with two record-keeping issues fixed during the inspection.
This was an unannounced first inspection under the provider. One inspector reviewed care, staffing, medicines, recruitment, training and management records. They also observed care and spoke with 6 people, 7 relatives and 12 staff.
The home was rated Good overall and received Good ratings for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, good infection control, well-managed risks and secure medicines.
People were supported by kind staff who knew them well. Care was personalised, families were involved, activities were available and complaints were investigated. The manager used checks and feedback to make improvements.
Inspectors found that a small number of medicines competency assessments were out of date, and one person's dietary advice was not fully included in their care plan. Both issues were addressed immediately during the inspection.
Enough staff
Inspectors found there were enough staff to meet people's needs. People said staff usually came when they needed them.
“There were sufficient staff employed to meet the needs of people living at Millbrook.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and families spoke highly of the staff. Inspectors found that staff respected privacy and dignity and encouraged independence.
“People and families spoke highly of how they were supported and described staff as being kind, caring and treating them well.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's needs and preferences, and families were involved in developing and reviewing care. Staff knew the people they supported well.
“People and families told us staff gave care that was personalised and met the person's individual needs.” from the report
Activities and community links
The home offered group and one-to-one activities, trips out and links with community services. People's ideas were used to shape activities.
“Wellbeing coordinators were in place who provided a range of group and one to one support, including trips out in the local community.” from the report
Quality improvement
The manager used audits, feedback, accidents, incidents and complaints to identify learning and make changes.
“There were systems in place to monitor the quality of the service and identify areas of improvement.” from the report
Out-of-date medicines checks
needs fixingA small number of staff who occasionally supported medicines administration had competency assessments that were out of date. The manager addressed this immediately and reviewed the system to reduce the risk of it happening again.
“On the first day of inspection, we found a small number of staff who occasionally support medicine administration had a competency assessment which was out of date.” from the report
Dietary advice not fully recorded
needs fixingIn one case, some dietary advice had not been fully added to the person's care plan. This was discussed with the manager and corrected immediately.
“However, we found one instance where some, but not all, advice had been fulling incorporate into the care plan.” from the report
- 01How do you now check that all staff who support medicines have current competency assessments?
- 02How do you make sure dietary, swallowing and other specialist advice is fully included in each person's care plan?
- 03How often are care plans reviewed with residents and families, and how are changes recorded?
- 04What activities and community visits are available for someone with particular interests or communication needs?
- 05How can our family give feedback or raise a concern, and how will we be told what action has been taken?
This was an unannounced first inspection under the provider and covered all five CQC key questions, including care, staffing, medicines, records, premises and management. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 September 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.
Every inspection of Millbrook Care Centre
3 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- September 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- June 2018Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2017Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2021
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 27 August 2021.
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 Tameside
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.
“Primrose is a very kind and compassionate healthcare professional”
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.