Archived: The Brambles

Updated 5 August 2021

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.

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

This inspection was carried out by one inspector on site and another inspector spoke to staff by phone.

Service and service type

The Brambles is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a 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 CQC. 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 professionals who work with the service.

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.

We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with one person’s advocate about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff including the nominated individual, registered manager and care staff. We were unable to gather people’s views directly, so we observed how staff interacted with people, including use of different forms of communication.

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

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Updated 5 August 2021

About the service

The Brambles is a residential care home providing personal care to up to six people with a learning disability and/or autism. At the time of the inspection there were two people living in the home. During the course of the inspection both people were supported in planned moves into new services.

The Brambles is an adapted residential building located close to local amenities. Accommodation is spread across two floors. There are six ensuite bedrooms, a shared living space and kitchen and secure garden.

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

The service had made considerable improvements since the last inspection. There was a clear plan of action which had been completed to ensure the service was now safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.

There were policies and procedures in place which were followed to protect people from abuse and the risks of avoidable harm. People had risk assessments and care plans which supported them, helped reduce risks and promoted their independence.

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 caring towards people and understood how they expressed themselves. The service had worked to improve focus on promoting people’s life skills and independence. Staff supported people to participate in activities which interested them, and had supported people through the pandemic to keep in touch with loved ones.

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.

This service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture. The service was small and gave people access to the local community. People’s independence was promoted in how they were supported for personal care and activities. Staff understood how to maintain people’s dignity and treated them with respect. There were clear values established for staff and role modelled by senior staff to ensure the culture was inclusive.

Right support:

• Model of care and setting maximises people’s choice, control and independence.

Right care:

• Care is person-centred and promotes people’s dignity, privacy and human rights.

Right culture:

• Ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of leaders and care staff ensure people using services lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives.

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 13 February 2021).

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

We carried out an unannounced inspection of this service on 3-14 September 2020. Breaches of legal requirements were found related to safe care and treatment, and good governance. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve.

We undertook this inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements.

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.

You can read the report from our last inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for The Brambles on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

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.