Browfield Residential Home

Updated 30 April 2022

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 carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Browfield Residential Home 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. Browfield Residential Home is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection. Inspection activity started on 15 March 2022 and ended on 21 March 2022. We visited the service on 15 March 2022.

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 spoke with four people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager, area manager, and three support workers. We observed staff interacting with people throughout the inspection.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four care records and multiple medication records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including quality assurance systems, policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We sourced feedback from two additional staff, two relatives and an independent professional who works with the service.

Updated 30 April 2022

Browfield Residential Home provides accommodation for up to 14 people with enduring mental health needs who require support with personal care. Accommodation is provided on three floors of two large houses, converted and adapted into one care home.

There is no passenger lift, but double handrails are fitted to all stairways. On street parking is available to the side of the home. The home is situated approximately one mile from Bury town centre and is close to all local amenities and public transport. The home had undergone a period of refurbishment since our last inspection and this was still in progress. At the time of our inspection there were 12 people living at the home.

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

Medicines were being managed safely at this inspection. Medication processes were in place and staff practice had improved. People had their care and support needs met by sufficient numbers of suitably trained staff. Face to face training delivered by the local authority was now available following the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff were scheduled to attend various sessions.

Support plans and risk assessments provided staff with relevant information so that appropriate care could be provided for people. The service worked in partnership with people, their families and staff. We received positive feedback from people and staff about the service.

A major refurbishment programme was in progress at the time of this inspection. Communal areas and most bedrooms had been modernised and decorated. A new kitchen had been fitted. Plans were in place to modernise bathrooms and office spaces. The positive changes to the home environment were apparent and people told us the difference this had made to their lives.

The care environment was clean and comfortable throughout. Infection control procedures were in place and staff used PPE effectively. Additional cleaning had been introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The service had good working relationships with GPs, district nurses and mental health professionals.

The service had good governance arrangements in place and completed regular internal quality checks. Findings from audits were reviewed by the registered manager and used to drive improvement within the service.

People told us they were happy and settled. There was a positive response to the changes being made to the home. A member of staff was now responsible for the development of activities and opportunities to help enable people to develop their daily living skills and access the local and wider community.

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 and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 9 August 2021) and there were breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

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 carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 21 June 2021. Breaches of legal requirements were found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve safe care and treatment.

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions of Safe, Effective and Well-led which contain those requirements.

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 Requires Improvement to Good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

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

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.