Brackenlea Care Home

The following is CQC's published account of its assessment, published 23 October 2025. References to “we” mean CQC. It describes findings at that time.

We carried out this inspection from 29 September 2025 to 01 October 2025. The service is a care home which supports up to 25 older people who may be living with dementia, or whom have a physical disability or mental health diagnosis. There were 24 people accommodated at the first site visit and a further person was in hospital. This was a responsive inspection of all 5 key questions triggered by our ongoing monitoring of the service.

The provider had not ensured people were sufficiently protected from the risks of acquiring an infection. Staff had not followed all infection control guidance in order to prevent and mitigate the risk of outbreaks spreading for people.

Staff had not ensured people’s medicines were always administered safely. The provider could not be assured medicines requiring refrigeration were continuously stored at a safe temperature. Some medicines lacked sufficient guidance about administration to inform staff.

The provider did not always ensure all potential risks to people were understood and managed. Staff had not undertaken training in modified diets and people’s care plans lacked guidance in relation to some of the potential risks associated with their diabetes, or use of air mattresses.

The provider had not ensured all risks to people from water safety had been mitigated and managed. Staff had not consistently secured all areas of the home where chemicals and maintenance tools were stored, for people’s safety.

The provider did not have robust processes to identify potential health and safety issues and did not always react swiftly for people’s safety. A wide range of audits were completed, but these did not identify all the issues we found.

We identified 3 breaches of regulations in relation to safe care and treatment, premises and equipment and good governance. The registered manager and provider have been responsive to our findings and commenced the required improvements, but this will take further time to fully complete and embed.

We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this inspection.

However, the service had an open culture, staff felt able to speak up about issues, which were acted upon. Staff reported incidents which were then investigated, and any required actions were taken.

Staff assessed a range of potential risks to people, such as from falls and understood how to manage them. There were enough regular staff to provide people’s care safely. The provider ensured safety checks had been completed in relation to electrical, fire and gas safety. The home was visibly clean.

Staff assessed people’s care needs with them and where people lacked the capacity to consent to their care, legal requirements were met. Staff worked well both as a team and in collaboration with external professionals to ensure people’s needs were met.

People received their care from kind and compassionate staff, who knew them well and whom respected and upheld their rights. People were supported to be as independent as possible. Staff were responsive and ensured people were well supported at the end of their life.

People’s care was person centred and their care plans were reviewed regularly. The registered manager sought people’s views on the service and acted upon their feedback. Staff understood the care needs of the people they supported.