Brambles

Updated 27 September 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the registered persons continued to meet the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

We visited the service on 20 and 21 September 2017. The inspection team consisted of two inspectors and the inspection was announced. In addition an Expert by experience (Ex by ex) was available to speak by telephone with relatives of people who lived at homes run by the provider. Unfortunately they were unable to speak with anyone from the Brambles within the timescales for inspection. An Ex by ex is a person who has experience of the type of service being inspected.

Before the inspection, the registered persons completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks them to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and the improvements they plan to make. We also examined other information we held about the service. This included notifications of incidents that the registered persons had sent us since our last inspection. These are events that happened in the service that the registered persons are required to tell us about.

During the inspection visit we spoke with two care staff, the registered manager and a senior manager. We observed care that was provided in communal areas and looked at the care records for three of the people who lived in the service. We also looked at records that related to how the service was managed including staffing, training and quality assurance.

Updated 27 September 2018

We carried out this unannounced inspection on 20 and 21 September 2017.

The Brambles is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for six people who have a learning disability and/or a sensory disability. At the time of our inspection visit there were six people living in the home.

There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the service is run.

At our previous inspection we found this service to be Good. At this inspection we also found the overall quality rating for the service was Good.

People and their relatives told us that they felt safe and well cared for. Staff knew how to keep people safe from the risk of abuse. Accidents and incidents were recorded and investigated. Medicines were safely managed, however m medicine administration records were not always completed according to the provider’s medicine policy.

There were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs and staff responded in a timely and appropriate manner to people. Staff were kind and sensitive to people. Background checks had been completed before new care staff had been appointed.

Staff had received training and support and they knew how to care for people in the right way. Staff were provided with training on a variety of subjects to ensure that they had the skills to meet people’s needs. The provider had a training plan in place and staff had received supervision. This included knowing how to communicate with people who did not use verbal communication.

People enjoyed their meals and had choices about what they wanted to eat. People had access to drinks and snacks during the day. Where people had special dietary requirements we saw that these were provided for. People had access to healthcare and were supported to access these.

People were supported to make choices and be involved in decisions about their lives. Care staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The provider acted in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). People who lack mental capacity to consent to arrangements for necessary care or treatment can only be deprived of their liberty when this is in their best interests and legally authorised under the MCA. The procedures for this in care homes and hospitals are called the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).

People were treated with compassion and respect. Care staff recognised people’s right to privacy and promoted their dignity. There were arrangements to help people access independent lay advocates if necessary and confidential information was kept private.

People were supported to pursue their hobbies and interests. They were supported to maintain relationships that were important to them. There were arrangements in place for dealing with complaints. People were supported to make complaints.

People had been consulted about the development of their home and quality checks had been completed. Good team work was promoted and care staff were supported to speak out if they had any concerns.

The provider had informed us of notifications. Notifications are events which have happened in the service that the provider is required to tell us about.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.