Branwell Manor

Updated 11 December 2020

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Heath and Social Care act 2008.

As part of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) response to care homes with outbreaks of coronavirus, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practice was safe and the service was compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 20 November 2020 and was announced.

Updated 11 December 2020

Branwell Manor is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to eight people with physical and learning disabilities at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to eight people.

Branwell Manor consists of one purpose-built property with two floors tailored to support adults with complex needs including autism spectrum conditions, physical and learning disabilities.

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

The service applied the principles and values the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

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.

Staff were trained to recognise and report safeguarding and whistleblowing to ensure people remained safe. People were happy with the care and support provided and felt safe and comfortable in the presence of staff.

People were supported to remain safe. A range of risk assessments were used to manage the risks to people both in the home and in the community. Medicines were managed safely.

Staff received a detailed induction, along with ongoing refresher training to ensure knowledge and skills remained up to date. Supervision and appraisals had also been completed to provide ongoing support.

People received personalised care which met their needs and wishes. People's care and support had been planned in partnership with them. Staff knew people well and supported them in line with their current needs and wishes. They were knowledgeable about people's likes, dislikes and personal preferences.

A robust quality assurance system was in place to monitor the service provided to people and areas for improvement were identified and actioned.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 24 December 2018) and there were two breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

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.