Northbrook Care Home

Updated 15 August 2023

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 carried out by 1 inspector.

Service and service type

Northbrook Care Home Ltd 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. Northbrook Care Home is a care home without nursing care. 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 a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

The inspection was unannounced and took place on 31 July 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make.

We also reviewed the information we already held about the service and provider. This included their last inspection reports and notifications. A notification is information about important events, which the provider is required to tell us about by law. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection.

During the inspection, we spoke with the registered manager, operations manager, 2 staff, 3 people and 2 relatives. We also observed interaction between staff and people. We reviewed documents and records that related to people’s care and the management of the service. We reviewed 3 care plans, which included risk assessments. We also looked at other documents such as medicine management, training, supervision and quality assurance records.

Updated 15 August 2023

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

About the service

Northbrook Care Home is a residential care home providing accommodation with personal care for up to 5 people living with a learning disability. At the time of this inspection, 5 people were living at the service. People living in the home have their own bedrooms and there are shared communal spaces, including lounges, a kitchen and a garden area. The building was over 2 floors.

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

Right Support

Staff had completed mandatory training to perform their role effectively. Staff were supported through regular supervision. The home was an ordinary house close to other residential and commercial properties, at the heart of the local community. People were supported to eat a balanced diet and were able to choose what they ate. People had access to health care professionals. Care plans were in place for people, which set out how to meet their needs in a person-centred way. Information was provided to people in a way that was accessible to them. Systems were in place for dealing with complaints. People were supported to maintain relationships with family and friends, and to engage in meaningful activities.

Right Care

Risk assessments were in place to ensure people received safe care. Medicines were being managed safely. People were protected from the risk of abuse. There were enough staff working at the service to support people safely. The provider had robust staff recruitment practices in place. Infection control and prevention systems were in place. Accidents and incidents were reviewed to see if any lessons could be learnt from them. People told us staff were caring and that they treated people with respect. Staff understood how to support people in a way that promoted their privacy, independence and dignity. The service sought to meet people's needs in relation to equality and diversity.

Right culture

Quality assurance systems were in place to ensure shortfalls could be identified and action taken to ensure people were safe at all times. People were at the heart of what the service did. Relatives and staff told us there was an open and positive culture at the service. People were supported to express their views. 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 the service was Good, published on 25 April 2018.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

Follow up

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