We carried out a review of the data available to us about Brookside on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Brookside, you can give feedback on this service.
We found the following examples of good practice:
People had been supported to maintain their wellbeing and continue to take part in their preferred routines and activities. People were seen to be happy and relaxed taking part in activities such as gardening and cooking. The registered manager was being innovative to ensure people could still do what was important whilst staying safe and following best practice guidance.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the registered manager and staff team had made efforts to help people understand the need for measures put in place such as increased use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and social distancing. This was discussed in meetings and displayed in easy read formats around the service.
Visitors to the service took part in various checks to ensure that it was safe for them to enter the premises. This included a rapid test for COVID-19 (known as a lateral flow test) and a temperature check. Visits from friends and family were being facilitated in line with government guidance.
The service was visibly clean and changes had been made in various rooms to help promote social distancing. Extra cleaning tasks had been put in place and audits were undertaken, and used, to identify if further improvements could be made.
People and the staff team were supported to follow a routine testing regime. Extra support has been put in place for people to understand and take place if this was necessary.
Staff received training in PPE use and infection control specific to COVID-19. Staff felt well supported in their jobs and spoke positively about the support they received to stay safe whilst at work. This included thorough risk assessments being completed.
Brookside is a residential care home providing personal care to 18 older people and younger adults, living with a learning disability or dementia at the time of the inspection. People has their own bedrooms at the service and shared facilities such as the kitchen, dining room, garden and bathrooms. Some people used the service for respite.
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 .
The service was a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties. It was registered for the support of up to 22 people. 18 people were using the service. This is larger than current best practice guidance. However, the size of the service having a negative impact on people was mitigated by the building design which allowed people to have their own personal space and maintain their independence. Staff were discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people. People were supported to be a part of the community and had access to local amenities. People had been living at Brookside for a large part of their lives and were happy being supported at the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found:
People were positive about their care. One person told us, ‘‘I am very happy living here and the staff are so kind and caring. I feel like this is my home and I cannot fault it.’’
People were supported by a kind and compassionate staff team who knew them well. Staff members had a passion for supporting people in a person-centred way and people received personalised care based on their support needs. People were supported to take part in activities and access the community based around their likes, dislikes and preferences. The service was designed and decorated to meet the needs of people using the service.
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. 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 opportunities to maintain their independence and live their lives in the way that they chose.
People felts safe living at the service and systems and processes were in place to safeguard people from harm and abuse. Risk assessments were in place which enabled them to take positive risks whilst keeping them safe. Medicines were administered safely and good infection control measures were followed at the service.
People were supported by suitably trained and competent staff and there were enough staff to support people in a timely manner. People had access to a complaints procedure if they wished to make a complaint about the service. People had plans in place for the end of their life and staff members had a good understanding of how to support people at this time.
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. People were supported to eat a balanced and health diet and were supported to live healthy lives and see health professionals where this was needed.
The manager promoted a positive culture and was passionate about supporting people using the service. The manager completed audits to monitor the quality of the service and put actions in place if areas for improvement were identified. People, relatives and the staff team were asked for feedback about the service and this was used to continually develop the service. The manager and staff team worked well with other organisations to achieve good outcomes for people.
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 3 May 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.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 25 April 2017. At the previous inspection on 24 June 2015, the service was rated Good and we found that at this inspection, it continued to be rated Good.
People were safe at the service. Staff had been trained in abuse and knew what action to take if they suspected people had been abused. There were risk assessments in place which promoted people's independence but also had measures for staff to take to help prevent harm. Staffing levels were sufficient to ensure that people received the care they needed and staff had been safely and robustly recruited. People were supported to take their medicines, which were recorded and stored appropriately.
Staff members received regular and ongoing training and supervision to ensure they had the skills they needed. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Consent was sought and the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 were followed. People were supported to have a full and nutritious diet and were also enabled to see healthcare professionals as and when this was required.
There were positive relationships between people and members of staff and staff displayed kindness and compassion towards people. Staff treated people with dignity and respect and worked hard to ensure their privacy was maintained. People were involved in their care and were provided with information about the service and the way it was managed.
People's care was person-centred. Care plans were in place which were based on their specific needs and preferences and were regularly updated. Activities were carried out on a regular basis and people were supported to go into the local community. Feedback, including compliments and complaints, was encouraged by the service and suitable action was taken in response.
There was a positive and open culture at the service. Staff were aware of their responsibilities and enjoyed their roles. They were well supported by the provider and the deputy manager, who was providing stability between the previous manager leaving and the new one starting. There were quality assurance systems in place to help monitor the service and identify areas for improvement.
This inspection took place on 14 May 2015.
Brookside is a residential care home which provides care and support for older people with learning disabilities. The service is registered for up to 22 people and at the time of our visit there were 15 people living there.
The service had 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.
People were protected from harm or abuse by staff that were aware of the principles of safeguarding and reporting.
Risks had been assessed and managed appropriately. Accidents and incidents were also managed effectively.
Staffing levels were sufficient to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. Safe recruitment processes were in place and current vacancies were being recruited to.
Medicines were managed safely.
Staff received an induction, regular training and supervision to help them perform their roles.
People’s consent was sought and they were encouraged to make decisions for themselves. The principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 were followed when supporting people to make decisions.
People were supported and encouraged to have a healthy and balanced diet and had choices of what they wanted to eat or drink.
People were supported to see health professionals both in the service and local community.
People were valued by staff and there was a positive relationship between them. Staff treated people with kindness and compassion.
People were able to express their own opinions about their care and were encouraged to do so.
The privacy and dignity of people was important and staff worked to ensure that this was respected.
People had been involved in the development of their care plans.
There were systems in place to obtain feedback from people regarding their care. The views and opinions of people were used to drive improvements in the service.
There was a positive and open culture in the service. There was a clear set of values which people and staff worked towards together.
There were systems in place to support people, the staff and management, to ensure the service worked effectively.
There were quality control systems in place to maintain high standards and identify areas for development.