Brook Care Home

Updated 6 January 2025

Date of Assessment: 15 January to 23 January 2025. The service is a residential care home providing support to older people living with dementia and mental health conditions. A total of 12 people were living at the service at the time of our assessment. This assessment was conducted in response to information we had received about the service. The provider had appointed a new manager who had been in post approximately 6 weeks and was in the process of submitting their registered manager application. The provider was being supported by an external care association and the local authority due to concerns relating to the oversight of the service and safe care and treatment of people using the service. We undertook an unannounced assessment of this service due to these concerns being raised to CQC. We found 3 breaches of the legal regulations in relation to safe care and treatment, staffing and governance. People did not always receive their prescribed medicines when they needed them. Staff had not received regular supervision, appraisal and training to enable them to carry out their roles effectively. Governance systems and audits were either not in place or not effective in identifying the concerns we found on the day. We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.

Updated 6 January 2025

People and those important to them were overall satisfied with the quality of their care and told us they felt safe, and staff were kind and caring. People told us they had access to a GP should they need one, comments relating to the quality of the food and choices on offer were positive. One person told us, “Yes, I do enjoy the food and never feel hungry.” Whilst people were generally positive about living at Brook Care Home, they also told us there were very few outings or activities to attend. One person told us, “I am never taken out, so really I sit on my bum all day and watch TV.” People and relatives were aware of who the manager was and were positive about the improvements being undertaken since the manager had commenced in their post.