Blackbrook House

Blackbrook House is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 55 people aged 65 and over. This report summarises an inspection that focused on the safety, effectiveness, caring nature, responsiveness, and leadership of the service. The inspection found that while the home provides a generally positive and caring environment, there are areas where improvements are needed to ensure consistent safety for all residents.

On safety, while residents and their families generally feel safe, there were instances where risk assessments were not fully effective, and some improvements were needed in medicine management. For example, specific dietary needs were not always consistently followed by staff, and in one case, a staff member handled medication inappropriately. The home has been working on improving staffing levels, particularly during weekends, and has effective recruitment processes in place.

In terms of how effective the care is, people's needs are well assessed, and care plans are detailed and personalised. Staff receive good training and support, and residents enjoy a nutritious and varied diet, though there were some delays in meal delivery to one wing. The home collaborates well with external health professionals to ensure residents' wellbeing.

The service is caring, with staff described as kind, compassionate, and motivated. Residents and their relatives consistently praised the staff's respectful and dignified approach, noting that residents are encouraged to maintain their independence and are treated with respect for their diversity and individual choices.

Regarding how responsive the service is, residents' care plans are detailed and personalised, ensuring their preferences and routines are followed. There is a varied and engaging programme of activities, encouraging residents to participate in things important to them, contributing to a good quality of life. Residents and their families feel their views are listened to and acted upon, with a clear process for raising complaints.

In terms of being well-led, the registered manager is visible and approachable, and feedback regarding the management team's approach to resolving issues found during the inspection was positive. Staff understand their roles, and their views are incorporated into service improvements. While audits are conducted, they require further development to effectively identify all areas for improvement across the service.