Brownrigg

Updated 5 February 2020

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

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Brownrigg 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

We gave the service an hour’s notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

What we did before the inspection

We looked at the previous inspection reports and any notifications received by the Care Quality Commission. A notification is information about important events, which the provider is required to tell us about by law. 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. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with all six people who lived at the service and observed staff interactions. We spoke with four members of staff including the registered manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. We also reviewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures, questionnaires and checks and audits.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We received feedback from one healthcare professional.

Updated 5 February 2020

About the service

Brownrigg is a care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to six people who are autistic or have a learning disability or mental health need. At the time of our inspection there were six people living at the service.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

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

People told us they enjoyed living at the service.

There were enough staff to keep people safe. Risks relating to people's care and support were assessed and mitigated and people were supported to be as independent as possible. Regular fire drills were held so people knew how to evacuate the service in an emergency. Staff were recruited safely.

People told us that staff were kind and caring. Staff treated people with respect and dignity.

People led active lives and we were shown pictures of the things they enjoyed doing, such as travelling on the bus to the seaside, visiting places in the local community and taking part in sponsored walks.

People were encouraged to access the kitchen whenever they wanted and were able to prepare their own drinks whenever they wished. They were supported to eat and drink safely.

Staff made prompt referrals to healthcare professionals when they needed additional support and advice. People told us they saw a doctor when they were unwell and received their medicines when they needed them.

Staff knew how to recognise and respond to abuse and the registered manager had reported any safeguarding concerns to the local authority.

Small concerns raised by people were documented as complaints and responded to appropriately. People told us they were happy with the support provided.

Staff received appropriate training and were supported by the registered manager to carry out their roles effectively. The registered manager completed a range of checks on the service, including care plan reviews.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

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 this service was good (published 8 June 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.