The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has officially closed down Bright Brains Global Limited, a care service in Chatham, following a second consecutive rating of “inadequate.” This decision comes after inspectors discovered ongoing serious concerns during a follow-up visit on January 13, 2023. The CQC’s report, released on February 27, 2023, highlighted a range of breaches related to the lack of person-centred care and failures to treat individuals with dignity and respect.
During the initial inspection in April 2022, the CQC found alarming conditions, including staff working long shifts of up to 12 hours without adequate support. Furthermore, patients were filmed in private settings without their consent. Despite being placed under special measures in June 2022, the situation showed little improvement when inspectors returned.
CQC deputy director of adult social care in Kent, Catriona Eglinton, expressed her dismay at the lack of progress, stating, “When we returned to Bright Brains, we were appalled to find leaders hadn’t addressed the serious concerns we raised at our previous inspections.” Inspectors reported a culture where residents did not feel safe to voice their concerns, and their fundamental rights were not upheld.
Bright Brains provided supported living and personal care to individuals with autism and learning disabilities. At the time of the inspection, there were four residents utilizing the service. Alarmingly, inspectors found that two rooms in one of the resident’s homes were being used as office space without consent.
The report detailed severe incidents of neglect, indicating that one individual had been involved in 63 incidents between August and December 2022. Staff members were noted to have stripped away the identities of residents, often referring to them by initials instead of their names. Eglinton emphasized the lack of empowerment, saying, “People still weren’t being supported to live empowered lives with choice and independence.”
Moreover, the report raised concerns about the working conditions for staff. Some employees were clocking in up to 14 hours a day before transitioning to sleeping shifts, raising questions about their ability to provide safe and effective care. Among the staff, nine out of 27 had not received training in positive behaviour support, while 16 had not undergone de-escalation training. In particular, agency staff had no specific training to support individuals with autism or learning disabilities.
In response to these findings, the CQC took regulatory action to cancel the registration of Bright Brains Global Limited. The service attempted to appeal this decision through the Care Standards Tribunal, but subsequently withdrew their appeal. Eglinton noted, “This means the regulatory action we took to close the service now stands.”
The local authority is now facilitating the relocation of residents to alternative accommodations, while the CQC continues to monitor the situation to ensure the safety of those affected. Bright Brains Global Limited has been approached for comment but has not yet responded.
This closure underscores the importance of stringent oversight in care services and the necessity for providers to adhere to standards that ensure the safety and dignity of vulnerable populations.
