Brindley Court

Updated 18 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 and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Brindley Court 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.

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, which included statutory notifications from the provider, which inform us of important events that happen in the service. The provider was in the process of completing a provider information return. 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. The registered manager shared the information they planned to include in their submission with us. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

During the inspection

We spoke with seven people who used the service and nine relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, nurses, care workers and the chef. We also spoke with two members of the provider’s senior management team, who attended to support the registered manager during the inspection. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

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

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We received information in relation to staff recognition systems.

Updated 18 February 2020

About the service

Brindley Court is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care for people aged 65 and over, and younger adults with physical disabilities. The service can support up to 52 people. The accommodation is provided in a single building, arranged over two floors, with communal facilities including lounges and dining rooms on each floor, a hairdressing salon, and a secure garden. At the time of our inspection, 48 people were using the service, some of whom were living with dementia.

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

People were cared for by kind, caring staff who created a warm and welcoming environment. People told us the staff always respected their privacy and dignity and provided care in their preferred way. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives, in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People felt safe and were protected from the risk of harm by staff who understood their responsibilities to identify and report any signs of potential abuse. There was a consistent approach to safeguarding and any concerns were taken seriously and investigated thoroughly in an objective way.

Risks associated with people’s care and support were managed safely. People received their prescribed medicines when needed and there were suitable arrangements in place in relation to the safe administration, recording and storage of medicines. Staff were trained and supported to meet people’s changing needs. The provider ensured there were enough, suitably recruited staff to meet people's needs and promote their wellbeing.

People’s care and support plans reflected their needs and preferences and were regularly reviewed. People’s diversity was recognised and promoted by the staff and systems were in place to meet people’s communication needs.

People were supported to access activities that were inclusive and based on their interests. They benefited from close links with the local community, which increased people’s opportunities for friendship. People had choice over their meals and were supported to access other professionals to maintain good health.

People were actively involved in the running of the home and their views on how the service could be improved were acted on as far as possible. People and their relatives had access to a formal complaints procedure and felt confident any issues raised would be resolved.

There was an open and inclusive culture, led by a registered manager who was committed to improving people’s care and support. Governance arrangements were well embedded and effective in highlighting and rectifying any shortfalls. Staff felt valued and supported in their role.

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 August 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.