The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has permanently closed Bright Brains Global Limited, a care service in Chatham, after it received an “inadequate” rating for the second time in less than a year. This closure follows a series of alarming findings during inspections, which revealed ongoing failures to address critical issues affecting the well-being of service users.
During a follow-up inspection on January 13, 2025, CQC inspectors expressed their dismay at the lack of improvement since an initial visit in April 2024. Despite being placed in special measures in June 2024, the service continued to operate under unacceptable conditions. The CQC’s report was publicly released on February 27, 2025, detailing multiple breaches of care standards.
The health watchdog identified seven significant violations, including inadequate person-centred care and instances where individuals were not treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. Additionally, the CQC noted failures in assessing individuals’ capacity to consent to care.
Catriona Eglinton, deputy director of adult social care in Kent, stated, “When we returned to Bright Brains, we were appalled to find leaders hadn’t addressed the serious concerns we raised at our previous inspections.” She highlighted a culture within the organization that discouraged staff from speaking out about safety issues, further compromising the rights of those in care.
Bright Brains Global Limited, located on Silverweed Road, provides supported living and personal care to autistic individuals and those with learning disabilities. At the time of the inspections, four clients were utilizing the service. Inspectors discovered that the organization had converted two rooms in a client’s home into office space without obtaining consent.
Concerns regarding the safety of clients were also raised. One incident report revealed that a single individual experienced 63 behavioral incidents between August and December 2024. Inspectors noted that staff often referred to clients by their initials rather than their names, stripping away individual identities.
Eglinton added, “People still weren’t being supported to live empowered lives with choice and independence.” The report indicated that one individual was restricted from participating in food shopping due to their choices, rather than receiving proper support to shop safely.
The inspection also flagged issues with staff working conditions, where care workers sometimes logged 14-hour shifts followed by overnight shifts without adequate rest. Alarmingly, many staff members lacked the necessary training to effectively support the individuals in their care. According to the CQC, nine out of 27 staff had not received training in positive behavior support, and 16 were untrained in de-escalation techniques. Furthermore, agency staff had no training regarding the specific needs of autistic individuals or those with learning disabilities.
In response to these findings, the CQC initiated regulatory actions to cancel the service provider’s registration. Bright Brains exercised its right to appeal the decision through the Care Standards Tribunal. However, during the tribunal proceedings, the organization withdrew its appeal, leading to the enforcement of the CQC’s closure decision.
Eglinton confirmed that the local authority is currently relocating residents from Bright Brains to alternative accommodations, ensuring their safety during this transition. The CQC continues to monitor the situation closely to guarantee that all individuals are safeguarded.
Bright Brains Global Limited has been approached for comment regarding the closure and the appeal process.
