CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Brunswick
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicine arrangements and suitable systems for assessing and managing risks. The home was clean and staff knew how to respond to safeguarding concerns.
- Effective?
- Good
- People’s needs were assessed and reviewed, and staff had suitable training and support. Inspectors recommended improvements to communal areas to make them more dementia friendly.
- Caring?
- Good
- People and relatives gave consistently positive feedback. Staff were seen treating people with kindness, dignity and respect, while encouraging independence and choice.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people’s needs and preferences. People could choose activities, maintain relationships and raise concerns through an accessible complaints process.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found positive leadership, effective quality checks and a culture focused on compassionate, person-centred care. The home also worked with external professionals and was testing electronic sensors to help reduce falls.
What inspectors found, August 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some communal areas needing improvement for people living with dementia.
This was the home’s first inspection since it registered. It was unannounced and took place on 7 August 2023. One inspector and an Expert by Experience spoke with people, relatives, staff and managers. They also observed care and checked care plans, medicine records, training and quality checks.
Inspectors rated all five areas Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. They found enough staff, safe medicines management, detailed care plans and positive relationships between staff and the people living there.
The home was clean and safe. However, inspectors recommended improving some communal areas so that people living with dementia can find their way around more easily. The home had already identified this as an area for improvement.
Kind and familiar staff
People were supported by a stable staff team who knew their needs and preferences. Inspectors saw warm relationships and received positive feedback from people and relatives.
“People received care by staff they knew and who were familiar with their needs and preferences.” from the report
Safe medicines and staffing
Medicines were stored and managed safely, and people received them as prescribed. Inspectors also found enough staff to respond to people in a timely way.
“Medicines were managed and stored safely. People received their medicines as prescribed by staff who were competent to administer them.” from the report
Personalised care and choice
People and relatives were involved in care planning. People had choices about daily care, food, activities and how they spent their time.
“People and their relevant others were involved in developing their care plans in line with their support needs and preferences.” from the report
Positive leadership
The manager promoted an open and compassionate culture. Staff said they felt supported and valued, and quality monitoring was used to identify improvements.
“The registered manager was pivotal in instilling a positive culture which was centred on promoting safe, high quality and compassionate care.” from the report
Dementia-friendly layout
needs fixingSome communal areas did not make it easy enough for people living with dementia to find their way around. Inspectors recommended using best practice guidance, including clearer dementia-friendly signs.
“We recommend the provider consults best practice guidance to help create a more supportive and dementia friendly environment.” from the report
- 01What changes have been made to the communal areas and signs to help people living with dementia find their way around?
- 02How will you make sure there are enough familiar staff on duty to meet my relative’s needs promptly?
- 03How will my relative and our family be involved in reviewing the care plan and making day-to-day choices?
- 04What activities and trips would be suitable for my relative’s interests and abilities?
- 05How are you using the electronic sensor pilot, and how will you check whether it is improving safety?
This was the first full inspection of the newly registered home and covered all five CQC areas, including the care provided and the premises. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 August 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
The Brunswick: Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and COVID-19 safety arrangements.
Inspectors visited on 27 January 2022. The visit was announced with two hours' notice.
This was a targeted inspection during the COVID-19 response. It looked at infection prevention and control, and asked about staffing pressures linked to COVID-19.
Inspectors found enough personal protective equipment, correct use of PPE, regular testing and vaccination arrangements, and a clean home. They were assured that the home had safe arrangements for visitors, admissions, distancing, hygiene and managing outbreaks.
The service was inspected but not rated. This report does not give an overall quality rating or ratings for most of the five areas inspectors usually assess.
PPE and hand hygiene
There was plenty of PPE, and inspectors saw staff using it correctly. Staff had completed infection control and hand-washing training.
“There was a plentiful supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) available. We saw PPE being correctly used by staff.” from the report
Clean environment
The home was clean and hygienic when inspectors visited, with cleaning managed in line with government guidance.
“Cleaning was being managed throughout the home in accordance with government guidelines and the home was clean and hygienic on the day we visited.” from the report
Testing and vaccinations
Residents and staff took part in regular COVID-19 testing. The report says staff and residents were supported to access vaccinations, and staff met the legal vaccination requirement.
“Staff and people living at the home took part in a regular programme of testing for COVID-19 and the registered manager had clear oversight of this process.” from the report
Infection control oversight
Inspectors found regular checks to maintain infection control standards and said the provider's infection prevention and control policy was up to date.
“There were regular checks in place to ensure infection control standards were maintained.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are COVID-19-related staffing pressures affecting staffing levels and care today?
- 02Are regular testing and vaccination arrangements still in place for staff and residents?
- 03How does the home currently manage visiting and reduce the risk of infections spreading?
- 04How often are infection control checks carried out, and what happens if a problem is found?
- 05How does the home safely manage admissions and any infection outbreaks?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it was not a full inspection and the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 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 The Brunswick
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- August 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- July 2021
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 19 July 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
38 live-in carers within about an hour of Sefton
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 £1,270 a week. 34 can care for a couple. 11 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.