Enter and View Report: Brushwood

In January 2025 we visited Brushwood a care home currently run by Liverpool City Council who took over the running of the facility when Bloomcare withdrew as operator. It is a purpose built facility of 60 beds with 32 occupied during the time of our visit with the middle floor currently completely closed. The home is described as EMI nursing and general nursing. Nursing is currently provided by Mersey Care, but they have declined to continue with the service as of our last update.

Summary

During our Enter and View visit we observed that Brushwood is in a transitional state between providers. The care home was not at the level that the manager wanted during our visit, and they were open and honest about the improvements needed.

The negatives are that the care home in many areas looks run down and unappealing despite being one of the newest care homes in the city and, in some areas, seemed dirty and unclean. Some rooms having carpets that were stained and had odours and handrails visibly broken and haphazardly mended do not make for an ideal environment for residents. There were smaller issues such as missing pictures and older fixtures that have been left on display.

The positives at Brushwood are that the new providers seem to be investing in improvements that will benefit both the residents and staff in creating an environment where care can be delivered effectively. Staff have expressed to us that they are happy with the changes made so far and hope that it will continue.

We are also aware from our meetings with the Liverpool Quality Assurance Group that Brushwood is being monitored closely with many varied professionals visiting the site and giving input weekly to drive up standards to a level that the residents deserve.

Recommendations

We make the following recommendations for Brushwood

• Continue the focus on refurbishing areas that are either in poor condition or designed in a way that is impeding staff in carrying out their duties. Issues raised by staff and noticed by our team included flooring in some bedrooms and lounges and some of the chairs in bedrooms.
• The handrails during our visit were in poor condition in multiple areas and we worry if they are not maintained they could constitute a hazard to residents who rely on them to aid mobility. These should be repaired/replaced as necessary and ideally in a colour that contrasts against the walls to aid the development of a dementia friendly environment.
• The appointment of a new chef gives an opportunity for Brushwood to engage with residents and family to make sure that people’s needs and wants for their food choices are being met. A more accessible displayed menu would also allow some residents to not rely on staff as much in decision making.

Positives and good practice

We found during our visit to Brushwood examples of positives and good practice which included but were not limited to:

• Menu flashcards- The use of communication aids to support resident choice in food is a great idea and allows a degree of choice to residents who may be non-verbal.
• Removal of older carpets in rooms- Housekeeping staff advised that the removal of these carpets and replacement with more suitable flooring is saving them time and protecting the dignity of residents who may be incontinent.