Background to this inspection
Updated
16 November 2019
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 Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
This inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
Briar Dene is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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.
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. We sought feedback from the local authority and healthcare professionals who worked with the service. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
The provider was not asked to complete 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.
During the inspection
We spoke with seven people living at the home and two visiting relatives. We spoke with five members of staff including the cook, two care workers, the deputy and care manager. We also spoke with two visiting health professionals.
We reviewed a range of records. These included three people's care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff files as well as records relating to the management of the home. This included policies and procedures, maintenance checks and audits carried out by the provider.
Updated
16 November 2019
About the service
Briar Dene is a residential care home providing personal care for 25 older people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 27 people.
At the time of our inspection the provider was in the process of constructing a larger care home to the side of the existing building. The provider’s aim is to transfer the service, with necessary permissions and consents, into the new building, however, a time frame for such a move has yet to be established. The inspector asked them to submit applications to register with CQC. These documents have now been submitted and are in the process of being considered. The local authority is working with the provider to ensure meetings take place to discuss the future placements for the residents living at Briar Dene Retirement Home.
People's experience of using this service and what we found
People received care and support in a safe environment. Risks had been identified, assessed and measures were in place to guide staff on how to reduce them. Health and safety audits were completed to ensure maintenance of the premises. Staff understood and practiced good infection prevention and control procedures. Staffing levels were regularly reviewed to ensure people’s needs were met. Recruitment procedures ensured staff were suitable to work in a care setting.
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.
Staff received regular training, supervision and annual appraisals. People were supported to access support and advice from health professionals when needed. People told us the food was very nice and it looked appetising.
Staff respected people’s privacy and dignity, whilst supporting them to remain as independent as they could be. People told us staff were caring and kind towards them.
People told us they chose which activities they would like to participate in and made some suggestions for future events and activities which we brought to the attention of the provider. Complaints were appropriately responded to, and systems were in place to support people with end of life care.
Quality assurance systems were being updated and records changed from paper based to electronic during this inspection. This had been identified by the provider as an areas requiring improvement so more oversight was in place to drive and enhance the quality of the service.
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 01 April 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.