We inspected Brook Lodge on 22 November 2018. Brook Lodge is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to eight people who predominantly have a learning disability.

We carried out this inspection following concerns raised regarding the service in November 2018, these concerns were focused on the safety of people. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to look into those concerns. This report only covers our findings in relation to this topic. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Brook Lodge on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

At the time of our inspection, eight people were living at Brook Lodge. Brook Lodge has accommodation for people over two floors. The home has an enclosed garden which people could enjoy, as well as a lounge diner, and a communal lounge. This was an unannounced inspection.

We previously inspected the home on 8 September 2016. The service was meeting all the requirements and we rated the service as “Good” overall. At this inspection in November 2018, we only looked at ‘Is the service safe?’ and ‘Is the service well led?’ questions. At this inspection the service was rated ‘Good’ overall.

There was a registered manager in place at Brook Lodge. 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 told us they were safe living at Brook Lodge. Where staff had identified risks to people’s health and wellbeing, the risk assessments and guidance around these were detailed and contained sufficient information for staff to support people to minimise risk. Staff we spoke with could tell us how they assisted people to reduce their risks and prevent them from avoidable harm.

People’s prescribed medicines were managed well and people were supported to take their medicines as prescribed.

There were enough staff deployed to ensure people’s health needs were being met. The registered manager had systems in place to learn from incidents and accidents. They shared this learning with staff to reduce the likelihood of future safety incidents and prevent harm to people.

The registered manager and provider had systems to monitor the quality of care people received at Brook Lodge. Quality assurance checks and audits were completed regularly and identified actions required to improve the service. People, relatives and staff spoke positively about the leadership offered by the registered manager.

The inspection took place on 8 September 2016. This was an unannounced inspection. The service was last inspected in May 2014. There were no breaches of regulation.

The service is registered to provide accommodation for up to 8 people and cares for people who predominantly have a learning disability. At the time of this inspection, there were 6 people using the service.

There was a registered manager in post. 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 service was safe. Risk assessments were implemented and reflected the current level of risk to people. Staff had a good understanding of safeguarding processes to minimise the risk of abuse or neglect. There were sufficient staffing levels to ensure safe care and treatment. The administration, recording and storage of medicine was safe. The registered manager took appropriate steps to ensure suitable people were employed to support the people using the service.

People were receiving effective care and support. Staff received appropriate training which was relevant to their role. Staff received regular supervisions and appraisals. The service was adhering to the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and where required the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). The accommodation was suitable for the people who were living at Brook Lodge. People had opportunities to personalise their living space.

The service was caring. People and their relatives spoke positively about the staff at the home. Staff demonstrated a good understanding of respect and dignity and were observed providing care which promoted this. Plans had been developed to reflect people’s wishes in relation to end of life care.

The service was responsive. Care plans were person centred and provided sufficient detail to provide safe, high quality care to people. Care plans were reviewed and people were involved in the planning of their care. There was a robust complaints procedure in place and where complaints had been made, there was evidence these had been dealt with appropriately.

The service was well-led. Quality assurance checks and audits were completed regularly and identified actions required to improve the service. Staff, people and their relatives spoke positively about the registered manager.