Cary Brook

Updated 12 July 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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

The inspection was conducted by 2 inspectors and 2 Experts 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

Cary Brook is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Cary Brook is a care home without nursing care. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with CQC to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and for compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection, there was a registered manager in post.

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 (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

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 spoke with 3 people living at the service and 17 relatives. We spoke with 12 staff members, which included the registered manager. We reviewed 8 people’s care records and 13 medicines records. We reviewed 3 staff recruitment records. We looked at various records relating to the management of the service, including policies, procedures and audits. We gained feedback from a health and social care professional.

Updated 12 July 2023

About the service

Cary Brook is a residential home providing personal care and accommodation to 45 people. The service specialises in support for older people living with dementia. At the time of our inspection, 36 people were using the service.

The home is purpose built, set across two floors. There are communal areas such as dining rooms and lounges. There is level access to secure outside area.

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

The provider's systems for sharing learning had not ensured information was acted upon promptly following an incident in another service to make sure people were protected from the risks associated with hot pipes, in line with the provider’s policy. The systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service were not always effective in ensuring shortfalls were identified and addressed in relation to environmental risks and medicines.

People were happy living at the home. Relatives spoke positively about the care and activities provided by staff. Staff worked as a team. There was a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.

The home was clean, tidy, and well maintained. There were infection prevention control measures in place. People could move freely around the premises. Positive feedback was received about recent refurbishment work.

Staff were recruited safely. The service was working to recruit to vacant positions. Equipment and fire safety systems were regularly checked.

The home was part of the local community. Meetings and events took place to engage and gain feedback from people, staff and relatives. Systems to communicate with staff and relevant others were in place.

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.

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 13 September 2017).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has changed from good to requires improvement based on the findings of this inspection.

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

Enforcement and Recommendations

We have identified a breach in relation to Regulation 17 (Good governance) at this inspection. Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor the information we receive about the service, which will help inform us when we next inspect.