Archived: Briar Dene Residential Care Home

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

We received positive feedback from people, who told us they were happy living at Briar Dene Care Home. People received person-centred support and staff knew people well. The care plans in place covered all aspects of peoples care and support preferences.

Peoples nutrition and hydration needs were met. People who needed extra help were supported effectively. People enjoyed their dining experience. We received positive feedback about the food and the choices available.

There were systems in place for communicating with people, their relatives and staff to ensure they were fully involved and included handovers, team meetings, phone calls and emails. The environment was clean, safe and maintained to a good standard. It was adapted to meet people’s needs and personalised to suit people’s preferences.

Medicines were managed well, safely administered and recorded accurately. Individualised risk assessments were in place. Staff were confident they would raise concerns to safeguard people. Recruitment and selection procedures ensured suitable staff were employed.

All essential visitors had to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). In addition, complete NHS Track and Trace information, provided evidence of a negative COVID-19 test prior to entering the home. Additional cleaning of all areas and frequent touch surfaces was in place and recorded by staff. Staff completed online training. This included putting on and taking off PPE, hand hygiene and other Covid-19 related training. Competency checks and spot checks were carried out by the registered manager with all staff regarding safe use of PPE.

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.

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 08/04/2020 and this is the first inspection since registering.

Why we inspected

This was a planned first rating inspection.

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.

We found the following examples of good practice.

• All staff and essential visitors had to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), complete NHS Track and Trace information and had their temperature checked prior to entering the home.

•The home had ample supplies of appropriate PPE which was stored hygienically and kept safe. Staff were provided with separate areas to put on and take off and dispose PPE safely.

• Staff supported people’s social and emotional wellbeing. The service had used different methods including information technology to assist communication. The provider and staff kept family members up to date about the latest guidance and their relative’s health via regular telephone calls, letters and other technology including video calls.

• The registered manager explained the quality systems they had in place to check the service was providing safe care. There was a robust communication system on place to ensure staff received consistent updates in relation to infection control policy and practice.

• Additional cleaning of all areas and frequent touch surfaces was in place and being carried out and recorded by housekeeping staff. Additional deep cleaning was also carried out where required.

• All staff, including catering and housekeeping staff had undertaken training in infection prevention and control. This included putting on and taking off PPE, hand hygiene and other Covid-19 related training. Additional competency checks regarding safe use of PPE was also carried out by the registered manager.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.