The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has officially closed the registration of Bright Brains Global Limited, a care service based in Chatham, following a second consecutive inadequate rating. This decision comes after inspectors discovered serious ongoing issues that had not been addressed since the initial inspection conducted in April 2024.
During a follow-up inspection on January 13, 2025, the CQC found that the service continued to operate in a manner that violated basic care standards. Inspectors reported being “appalled” by the lack of improvement in several critical areas, including the treatment of individuals and the management of care staff.
The CQC’s previous inspection in June 2024 had already placed Bright Brains Global Limited under special measures due to grave concerns, including staff working excessive hours and patients being filmed in private settings without their consent. The recent report, released on February 27, 2025, highlighted seven significant breaches of regulations concerning person-centred care and respect for individual rights.
Catriona Eglinton, the CQC’s deputy director of adult social care in Kent, emphasized the gravity of the situation. She 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. There was still a closed culture, where people didn’t feel safe to speak out when things went wrong, and their basic human rights weren’t always upheld.”
Bright Brains, which provides supported living and personal care to individuals with autism and learning disabilities, was found to be using two rooms in a client’s home as office space without obtaining consent. At the time of inspection, four individuals were receiving care from the service.
The CQC report noted that one person had been involved in 63 incidents between August and December 2024, raising serious concerns about the management of behaviour and potential risks to safety. Furthermore, staff were observed referring to individuals by their initials rather than their names, stripping away their identity and dignity.
Eglinton pointed out that the service failed to empower individuals to make choices about their lives. One alarming example involved a staff member restricting a person’s ability to go grocery shopping simply because they preferred to purchase snacks, rather than finding a safer way to support them.
Concerns were also raised about staff working conditions, with some care workers reportedly on duty for up to 14 hours in a single day, followed by sleep shifts. Alarmingly, many staff members lacked the necessary training to provide safe care. According to Eglinton, nine out of 27 staff had not received training in positive behaviour support, while 16 had not been trained in de-escalation techniques. Additionally, agency staff were found to have no training relevant to supporting autistic individuals or those with learning disabilities.
In response to the findings, the CQC took regulatory action to cancel Bright Brains’ registration. The service attempted to appeal this decision through the Care Standards Tribunal. However, during the proceedings, the company withdrew its appeal, confirming the CQC’s decision to close the service.
Eglinton confirmed that the local authority is now working to relocate individuals living at Bright Brains to alternative accommodations. The CQC will continue monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of all affected individuals during this transition.
Bright Brains Global Limited has been approached for comment but has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the closure.
