Brookside is a residential care home based in Kempston, near Bedford. They provide accommodation and personal care for up to 22 adults, including those who have a learning disability and older people, some of whom were also living with dementia. On the day of our inspection there were 18 people living at the service.

The inspection was unannounced and took place on 25 April 2017. At the previous inspection on 24 June 2015, the service was rated Good and we found that at this inspection, it continued to be rated Good.

People were safe at the service. Staff had been trained in abuse and knew what action to take if they suspected people had been abused. There were risk assessments in place which promoted people's independence but also had measures for staff to take to help prevent harm. Staffing levels were sufficient to ensure that people received the care they needed and staff had been safely and robustly recruited. People were supported to take their medicines, which were recorded and stored appropriately.

Staff members received regular and ongoing training and supervision to ensure they had the skills they needed. 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. Consent was sought and the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 were followed. People were supported to have a full and nutritious diet and were also enabled to see healthcare professionals as and when this was required.

There were positive relationships between people and members of staff and staff displayed kindness and compassion towards people. Staff treated people with dignity and respect and worked hard to ensure their privacy was maintained. People were involved in their care and were provided with information about the service and the way it was managed.

People's care was person-centred. Care plans were in place which were based on their specific needs and preferences and were regularly updated. Activities were carried out on a regular basis and people were supported to go into the local community. Feedback, including compliments and complaints, was encouraged by the service and suitable action was taken in response.

There was a positive and open culture at the service. Staff were aware of their responsibilities and enjoyed their roles. They were well supported by the provider and the deputy manager, who was providing stability between the previous manager leaving and the new one starting. There were quality assurance systems in place to help monitor the service and identify areas for improvement.

This inspection took place on 14 May 2015.

Brookside is a residential care home which provides care and support for older people with learning disabilities. The service is registered for up to 22 people and at the time of our visit there were 15 people living there.

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.

People were protected from harm or abuse by staff that were aware of the principles of safeguarding and reporting.

Risks had been assessed and managed appropriately. Accidents and incidents were also managed effectively.

Staffing levels were sufficient to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. Safe recruitment processes were in place and current vacancies were being recruited to.

Medicines were managed safely.

Staff received an induction, regular training and supervision to help them perform their roles.

People’s consent was sought and they were encouraged to make decisions for themselves. The principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 were followed when supporting people to make decisions.

People were supported and encouraged to have a healthy and balanced diet and had choices of what they wanted to eat or drink.

People were supported to see health professionals both in the service and local community.

People were valued by staff and there was a positive relationship between them. Staff treated people with kindness and compassion.

People were able to express their own opinions about their care and were encouraged to do so.

The privacy and dignity of people was important and staff worked to ensure that this was respected.

People had been involved in the development of their care plans.

There were systems in place to obtain feedback from people regarding their care. The views and opinions of people were used to drive improvements in the service.

There was a positive and open culture in the service. There was a clear set of values which people and staff worked towards together.

There were systems in place to support people, the staff and management, to ensure the service worked effectively.

There were quality control systems in place to maintain high standards and identify areas for development.