We carried out a review of the data available to us about Branthwaite Care Home on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Branthwaite Care Home, you can give feedback on this service.
We found the following examples of good practice.
At the time we inspected the service was following the current government guidance in relation to infection prevention and control.
There were restrictions on visiting the service. There was a clear system for visitors in place to ensure they followed the current guidance on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and social distancing. All visitors were screened for symptoms of respiratory or other infections before being allowed to enter the home. The home was clean and well maintained throughout.
The provider had ensured that people were able to maintain contact with relatives using technology. For example, people were supported to have video calls with relatives to help maintain contact. The provider was planning how to arrange safe visiting during the winter in accordance with current government guidance.
The provider had arrangements in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other infections. All staff received training on the correct use of PPE and infection control. The management team did regular checks on staff to ensure they were following infection control procedures.
The provider had arrangements in place to ensure people and staff were tested for COVID-19 in accordance with current government guidance. Risk assessments were carried out with people and staff to ensure they could safely live and work at the service.
Further information is in the findings below.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found: The registered manager and all staff we spoke with demonstrated extremely caring and patient approaches to people who required skilled, person-centred care. Staff excelled in this area and management systems and processes supported them. People and their relatives enjoyed the calm, welcoming environment the registered manager and staff had maintained. Underpinning this calmness was exceptional understanding and application of best practice across a range of areas, including: dementia awareness and care, hydration and nutrition, infection control, skin integrity awareness and oral care.
Staff worked extremely proactively in consultation with external healthcare professionals. They developed their own guidance tools, training and contributed to the development and roll out of best practice which had a positive impact on people who used the service, and adult social care providers in the area. The service and individual staff had regularly won awards for their work in raising public and professional awareness of key social care issues.
Feedback from people, their relatives and a range of external professionals was exceptional regarding the compassionate, affectionate and sensitive approach of staff.
People had formed extremely strong bonds with staff members they knew well. The majority of staff had been at the service for several years and this continuity was commented on by all as another key strength; people felt at home and consistently likened staff to family.
There was a creative and proactive approach to healthy eating. This was a balance of extremely effective common-sense approaches and broader themed days and events, with a high degree of involvement by people who used the service.
End of life care was outstanding. The deputy manager demonstrated an excellent understanding of relevant best practice and the service was seen as a leader by external professionals. They had developed guidance to help support people and families and they ensured all aspects of care planning were person-centred, including how to memorialise people in the way they wanted.
Activities were extremely varied and well resourced. Staff had an exceptional understanding of each person’s preferences and background. They used a combination of group activities and one to one time to ensure everyone had access to meaningful activities and the opportunity to try new things. Feedback from relatives and external professionals was outstanding.
The service was exceptionally well-led. The registered manager was well respected in the organisation and further afield, for instance at the provider forum meetings, where they were considered a leader in best practice. They had continued to drive a range of improvements and initiatives which had positive impacts on people’s health and wellbeing. They continued to innovate and try to find ways to improve people’s experience of care.
The staff team was extremely well trained and dedicated. They shared a common understanding of the caring values of the organisation, which were consistently demonstrated at all levels. They were empowered to treat people as they would members of their own family and truly valued and colleagues and people.
Feedback regarding the registered manager from relatives and external professionals was consistently outstanding, with them described as a leader and innovator. Staff agreed with these opinions and described the supportive nature of the service, within which they felt encouraged to excel.
Extremely strong community links were in place, ensuring people who used the service felt an active, contributing part of the community. Where people were unable to access community regularly, staff found innovative ways of bringing the community into the home.
People were included in the running of the service. Their feedback was sought at resident/relative meetings, individual review meetings or surveys. People and their relatives knew how to raise and issues or concerns and welcomed the additional ‘cake and cocktail’/’cheese and wine’ evenings the registered manager organised.
Records were accurate, up to date and person-centred. Clear systems were in place for the review and audit of all aspects of the service.
Medicines were managed safely, in line with best practice, by well trained and confident staff. Covert medicines and medicines to be given ‘when required’ were comprehensively supported by clear paperwork. The premises were well maintained and appropriate health and safety checks were in place. Emergency procedures and contingency plans were in place.
People’s capacity was assumed and staff acted in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Best interest decision-making followed best practice guidance.
Turnover of staff remained low and staff morale was extremely high; staff worked enthusiastically together.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection: Good.
Why we inspected: We inspected the service in line with our scheduled programme of inspections.
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
This inspection took place on 2 August 2016 and was unannounced.
Branthwaite Care Home is located in the market town of Retford in Nottinghamshire. The home is registered to provide accommodation for up to 40 people who require nursing or personal care. The care provided has a focus on supporting people who have needs that are associated with memory loss and dementia. At the time of inspection 40 people were using the service, meaning that the home was full.
The service had a registered manager. 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 staff understood their role in keeping people safe. People who used the service and those supporting them knew who to report any concerns to if they felt they or others had been the victim of abuse. Risks were assessed and any accidents and incidents were investigated so that steps could be put in place to avoid reoccurrence. There were enough staff with the right skills and experience to meet people’s care needs. Medicines were stored, administered and handled safely and people received their medicines as prescribed.
People were supported by staff who had received the training and supervision they needed to support people effectively.
People had consented to the care that they received. The registered manager applied the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivations of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), so that people’s rights were protected.
People had sufficient to eat and drink and were able to choose what they ate. When needed, people’s food and fluid intake was monitored so they could be assured that they had enough to eat and drink.
People’s healthcare needs had been assessed and were regularly monitored. The service worked well with visiting healthcare professionals to ensure they provided effective care and support.
People were supported by staff who were caring and treated them with kindness, respect and dignity. People were encouraged to be independent and had access to independent advocacy services. There were no restrictions on friends and relatives visiting.
Staff were responsive to people’s needs. People were supported to participate in activities People and their relatives were involved with the planning of the care and support provided. Care plans were written in a way that focused on people’s choices and preferences. Regular monitoring of people’s assessed needs was conducted to ensure staff responded appropriately.
A complaints procedure was in place and people felt comfortable in making a complaint if needed.
There was a positive atmosphere within the home and people’s views were considered when making decisions to improve the service. People spoke highly of the registered manager Processes were in place to check on the quality of the service and the registered manager had clear processes in place to continually improve the quality of the service that people received. The service had recently won awards acknowledging this.
We found that people were receiving care and support that met their needs and protected their health and safety.
We found that the home was well led and had systems in place to ensure there was always enough staff available with the right skills to provide a consistent and effective service.
We found that the staff team were caring and responsive to the needs of people who used the service. A person who used the service commented, 'The staff are lovely and doing a fantastic job.'
We spoke with eight people who lived at the home, two relatives who visited during our inspection, and a local community nurse who had visited to provide support for one person who lived at the home. We also spoke with five staff members, the registered manager and the home owner.
People told us they had enough information to tell them about what the home provided when they moved in. They also said they could express themselves in the way they wished and were encouraged to make their own choices.
We spoke with two people in the homes activity room. The person told us, "There is always something to do if you want it. From crafts and games to outings in the homes own mini bus."
People also said they felt safe living at the home. They told us they were confident that staff had the right skills and experience for the job and that they were honest and trustworthy. A relative of one person we spoke with said, 'They go the extra mile to make sure people are safe and with the care given.'
We found that people felt confident taking any suggestions or concerns to staff, the manager and also the home owner. People said they liked the fact that the home owner was regularly available to talk to them. One person told us, "I wouldn't wait to shout up if I was unhappy but I am not."