The Care Quality Commission
  • Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Briardene

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

63 East Parade, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 5LP (01423) 562667

Provided and run by:
Appleview Homes Limited

Important: The provider of this service changed. See new profile

All Inspections

20 October and 3 November 2015

During a routine inspection

We carried out this inspection over two days on 20 October and 3 November 2015. The visit on the first day of the inspection was unannounced.

We last inspected this service on 25 November 2013 where we found the provider met the regulations we looked at.

Briardene care home provides care for up to 13 people with a learning disability. The home comprises of 13 bedrooms, two communal lounges, two kitchens and a dining room. The service is situated in the centre of Harrogate town with good access to all the local facilities. It is owned by Appleview Homes Limited.

The service has a registered manager. 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.

Appleview Homes Limited was in administration, which meant that a court appointed administrator was responsible for the management of the company. The administrator had appointed a management company to oversee the management of the home to ensure that they met the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and its regulations until the home changed ownership.

People spoke positively about the registered manager and said they were well looked after and happy. Staff told us that they received good management support from both the registered manager and from staff within the management company. There was an established staff team who knew about people’s individual care needs and provided people with safe, consistent care in consultation with other social and healthcare professionals.

Risks were well managed and were kept under review to ensure that people were protected whilst minimising any restrictions placed upon them. Although no recent appointments had been made we found that there were safe recruitment policies in place to recruit staff safely. Suitable arrangements were in place to support people with the safe administration of their medicines.

Staff were well trained and worked within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. The manager understood how to apply for an authorisation for a person to be deprived of their liberty lawfully. People had their care needs including their nutritional care needs assessed to ensure the care provided met their care needs and preferences. Care plans were person centred and included detailed descriptions about people’s care needs and how staff should provide their support.

People who used the service could follow their own interests and pursuits and they were encouraged to try new activities and experiences.

Effective management systems were being used to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided and gave people who used the service opportunity to provide feedback on the care they received.

25 November 2013

During a routine inspection

We saw people's health and behaviours were recorded and that relevant health care professionals were involved in people's care or contacted as people's needs changed. When asked, people told us they were happy living at Briardene and were well cared for. They told us staff were kind to them.

A range of policies and procedures were in place at the home which included safeguarding, whistleblowing, managing money and restraint. Records showed staff had completed training in safeguarding provided by North Yorkshire County Council. We asked staff if they had ever witnessed abuse at Briardene or had concerns that someone was being abused. They all told us they did not and if they ever did they would report it immediately.

Appropriate arrangements were in place in relation to obtaining, recording, administering and returning medicines. We saw the provider had systems in place to ensure that medicines received into the home were accurately recorded and stock levels managed.

We saw arrangements were in place for new staff to complete an induction and for their competency to be assessed before they commenced their role or commenced new tasks. Staff told us they received an annual appraisal and regular supervision meetings with the manager.

The provider had systems in place to regularly assess and monitor the quality of service people received. Checks were carried out by the provider, manager and staff within the home.

3 January 2013

During a routine inspection

We looked at five people's care records. We saw that care plans had been signed and agreed either by the person living at the home or their relative. We saw evidence on care records viewed that people were consulted on matters relating to their care and welfare and that consent was obtained.

We spoke with three people living at Briardene and two relatives. They told us "I like living here", "It's fantastic, we have no worries at all" and "I can come at anytime and things are always fine. The care and support is excellent." We saw people's health and welbeing was recorded and that relevant health care professionals were involved in people's care or contacted as people's needs changed.

Medicines were prescribed and given to people appropriately. We looked at the medication records (MAR) and dispensing packs of four people living at the home. We saw that all the people had received their medication at the required times for that day and at all other required times prior to our inspection.

Appropriate checks were undertaken before staff began work. This meant that the provider was assured that staff were not barred from working with adults or children.

People were made aware of the complaints system. The home had a complaints policy in place. One person said "If I get upset about anything then I speak with my keyworker (a key worker is a member of staff who supports an individual) or the manager."

27 October 2011

During a routine inspection

People using the service told us that they were involved in decisions about their care and day-to-day living. For example people said they were asked about what they wanted to do that day, and what they wanted to eat, they also planned the next week's activities both in the home and in the local community. People also told us about outings they had made and holidays they had planned.

We saw some bedrooms and people said that they decided how their bedrooms were decorated and what they wanted to have in their rooms such as: music systems, televisions, posters, pictures and other items to personalise their rooms.