Background to this inspection
Updated
1 December 2022
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Inspection team
The inspection team consisted of 2 inspectors and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Service and service type
Brockhampton Court Care Home with Nursing is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under 1 contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
Registered Manager
This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.
At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. The provider completed a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with 8 people about their experiences of what it was like living at Brockhampton Court Care Home with Nursing and 2 visiting relatives. We spoke with 11 staff including the manager, managing director, quality assurance manager, head of care, nurses, team lead and agency care staff.
We reviewed a range of records. This included samples of 3 people's care records and multiple medication records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, audits, complaints, compliments and evidence of activities people were involved and people's overall feedback about the service were also viewed.
Updated
1 December 2022
About the service
Brockhampton Court Care Home with Nursing is a care home providing personal and nursing care to a maximum of 58 older people and younger adults with physical disabilities within a large adapted building. At the time of our inspection, 39 people lived at the home.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
There were aspects of the home environment that required action to ensure it was safe. For example, windows were not restricted, unsafe areas were unlocked and communal bathrooms had hot water pipes exposed. People's medicines were not managed and stored in a safe way. The provider’s representative recognised the seriousness of our concerns and took action to mitigate immediate risk.
People were safeguarded from the risk of abuse, and lessons were learnt following incidents and accidents. There were sufficient infection prevention and control arrangements in place and the home was clean. People told us staff were caring and kind. There were sufficient staff available to meet people's needs. Staff were recruited safely and had pre-employment checks to determine their suitability for employment.
The provider had systems in place to monitor the quality of the service, however, this was not always effective. People had access to information about how to raise a complaint and felt listened to. Staff worked with external healthcare professionals to follow their guidance and advice about how to support people following best practice. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published March 2021).
Why we inspected
The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about medicines, infection control and staffing and also in part by a notification of an incident following which a person using the service sustained a serious injury. This incident is subject to a criminal investigation and as a result this inspection did not examine the circumstances of the incident. However, the information shared with CQC about the incident indicated potential concerns about the management of risk of falls. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only.
We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the safe and well-led sections of this full report.
Enforcement
We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to monitor the service and will take further action if needed.
We have identified breaches in relation to safe care and treatment of people at this inspection. Following our inspection, the provider took action to mitigate the risks identified and has sent us written and photographic evidence to confirm changes to the environment and management of medicines has been effective.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.