21 September 2016
During a routine inspection
Brook House is a residential care home for up to 14 adults who have a learning disability. The service offers people emergency care and short term breaks. At the time of our inspection, there were four people using the service. There was a registered manager in place who was present throughout our inspection. 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.
People using the service and their relatives told us that they felt the service was safe. People were supported by staff who were aware of their needs and risks, and how to recognise and report abuse. Maintenance checks were completed routinely at the service and processes had been established to help staff keep people safe in the event of an emergency.
People received their medicines safely and as prescribed, however further areas of improvement were identified for how staff recorded the support that people received with their medicines.
People’s needs were met by supportive staff who received training and guidance for their roles. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs and people were protected by safe recruitment practices that had been improved by the registered provider.
People were able to move around the service freely and go to the community with the support of staff as they wished. People were encouraged to make their own decisions and were supported in line with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (2005).
People were supported to eat sufficient foods of their choice with healthy options. People’s dietary requirements were met and their food and drink intake monitored as required, to reflect how these needs had been met. Staff supported people to access healthcare support and monitored their symptoms where required to help people stay well.
People were treated with respect and we saw that they had developed positive relationships with staff. Relatives confirmed that people were made to feel involved and welcome at the service.
People received care that was responsive to their needs. The registered manager sought feedback from people and relatives to ensure that people’s needs were met. People were supported to participate in activities of interest to them.
Relatives, staff and professionals spoke positively about the service and registered manager. Staff were motivated in their roles and felt that communication at the service was effective. People and relatives felt comfortable raising concerns and felt confident that issues would be addressed promptly. The registered manager reflected an understanding of their responsibilities and staff felt supported in their roles and able to share their ideas and concerns within an open, person-centred culture.