Brackley Care Home

Updated 11 June 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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was completed by one inspector and a specialist nurse advisor.

Service and service type

Brackley Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Brackley Care Home is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

At the time of our inspection there was 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 they registered. We sought feedback from the local authority who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with two people who used the service and five relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with seven members of staff including the registered manager, clinical director, nurses and care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included seven people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 11 June 2022

About the service

Brackley Care Home is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care for to up to 66 people. The service provides support to younger and older people with a diagnosis of dementia, mental health and/or physical disabilities. At the time of our inspection there were 35 people using the service.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Medicine administration was not consistently recorded regarding as required medicines, the registered manager was aware of this and immediately put strategies in place to mitigate the risk of this occurring again. People were supported to have their medicines as prescribed by staff who had been trained and assessed as competent.

People were protected from known risks. However, records were not always completed to evidence this. Risk assessments were completed, and strategies identified to mitigate these risks. Staff understood safeguarding and how to recognise and report any concerns of potential abuse.

Staff were safely recruited, inducted and trained to meet people's needs. Adequate staffing levels were observed.

People were supported by staff who knew them well and had the information required to meet their needs. People and relatives were all consistently positive about the staff and the support they received.

Care plans contained person centred, detailed information to support staff in understanding the person's individual holistic needs. People’s likes, dislikes, preferences, choices and life history had been recorded.

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.

People’s communication needs were assessed and when required, information had been presented in a different format to meet people’s needs. Such as, large print or easy read.

Staff supported people to access healthcare services as required. Any specialist support was recorded, and actions completed.

People were supported to access activities, outings and celebrations. Friend and relatives were welcomed into the service and people were supported to maintain relationships.

People were protected from infections. Staff wore appropriate personal protective equipment, the home was regularly cleaned and the registered manager followed government guidance on COVID-19.

The registered manager had systems and processes in place to make improvements to the service and gain people, relatives and staff views. There was an improvement plan in place and action plans were completed when any concerns were identified. People, relatives and staff knew how to complain.

Governance systems were in place to ensure people were supported in a dignified person-centred way by staff who understood and respected people.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 16 November 2020 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.