The Brookland

Updated 18 March 2022

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of COVID-19, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practice is safe and that services are compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 16 February 2022 and was unannounced.

Updated 18 March 2022

The Brookland is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for one person with a learning disability. The person who used the service needed support to develop and maintain life skills and be safe in the community.

At the last inspection in August 2015, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

The service had a registered manager in post. 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. The registered manager was also the provider of the service.

The registered manager and staff understood their role in keeping people safe and their responsibilities in reporting any concerns. Risks to the person and the environment continued to be identified and plans were in place to give staff the guidance required to minimise risks. The person’s medicines continued to be managed safely and in the way they preferred. However, medicine refresher trainings needed to take place annually. We have made a recommendation about this.

There continued to be enough staff to meet the person’s needs. Staff were recruited safely and had the training and support they needed to fulfil their role. They told us the registered manager, who is also the provider, was accessible and open to new ideas. There was a complaints procedure in place. The person, staff and relatives told us they knew who to speak to if they had any concerns and they were confident they would be addressed promptly.

The person continued to be supported to have maximum choice and control of their life and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice. Staff treated the person with dignity and respect. The person’s privacy was protected and promoted by staff. The person was supported to maintain relationships with their family. There were a wide variety of activities, in and out of the service.

The person continued to be supported to have food they enjoyed, which supported them to stay healthy. The person was involved in menu planning and they told us if they did not like what was on the menu they were able to choose something different. The person was supported to attend regular health care appointments as required.

The person continued to be involved in planning their care. Their care plan gave staff information about their life and what was important to them. Care plans detailed what the person could do for themselves and the best way to encourage them. Staff knew the person well and supported them in line with their care plans and preferences.

The registered manager continued to audit the quality of the service. The person, staff and relatives were asked their views on the service through surveys and meetings.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.