The Brandles

Updated 24 November 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 carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

The Brandles 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. The Brandles 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.

Shortly before our inspection the registered manager resigned, however a new manager had already been identified.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We sought feedback from the local commissioners prior to our inspection. We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included notifications from the service and information shared by the local authority. 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.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people, two staff, the new home manager and provider. We reviewed two people’s care records and two staff files. We undertook observations of staff support and the care home environment. We checked medicines records and medicines storage and reviewed the provider’s quality assurance processes.

Updated 24 November 2022

About the service

The Brandles is a residential care home providing personal care and accommodation for up to 7 people with mental health difficulties and people who have a learning disability. At the time of our inspection there were 6 people using the service.

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

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people. The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.

Right Support

People were supported to have choice and control over their lives. People were encouraged to remain active and chose the activities they engaged in. Staff understood people and their individual needs well. Staff communicated with people in ways that met their needs. The service gave people care and support in a safe, clean, well equipped, well-furnished and well-maintained environment that met their needs.

Right Care

People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people's privacy and dignity. They understood and responded to their individual needs. Staff understood people's cultural needs and provided culturally appropriate care. People’s needs were assessed and reviewed, and their care was person-centred.

Right Culture

The provider checked the quality of care people received and plans were in place to update the governance framework even further. The manager agreed the service needed to be better informed around the guidance for COVID-19, but plans were implemented to improve oversight. 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.

We have made a recommendation about capturing people’s health conditions within their care plans.

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 17 December 2021 and this is the first inspection. The last rating for the service under the previous provider was good (published 1 February 2020).

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part by notification of an incident following which a person using the service died. This incident is subject to further investigation by CQC as to whether any regulatory action should be taken. 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. This inspection examined those risks.

This inspection also assessed whether the service is applying the principles of right support, right care, right culture.

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.