Background to this inspection
Updated
3 April 2020
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection team consisted of one inspector.
Service and service type
The Dale is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection-
We spoke with five people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four staff members including the registered manager, senior care worker, care worker and the cook. We spoke with one visiting professional who regularly visits the service.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.
Updated
3 April 2020
About the service
The Dale is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to 14 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The Dale accommodates people in one adapted building.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Care plans and risk assessments did not always detail what care and support people needed to reduce risk to them. Medicines were managed safely, however, there was no evidence staff had their competencies checked. People told us they felt safe. Staff were recruited safely, and there were enough staff to take care of people.
Staff received appropriate training, a plan was in place to ensure training was kept up to date. Staff were supported and felt supported by the management team. Staff received supervision. People’s needs were assessed, and outcomes recorded. People were offered a choice of food and drink. The service worked with other health care professionals.
People were cared for by staff who knew them well. People and their relatives told us staff were kind and caring. People had enough to do, to keep them meaningfully occupied. People provided positive feedback about the activities and entertainment on offer. People had opportunities to provide feedback about the care they received and to raise any concerns.
People told us staff were kind and caring. People were supported to have choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems at the service supported this practice. People told us staff treated them with dignity and respect, they were involved with the planning of their care and their views were listened to.
There were a complaints procedure and people knew how to complain. Peoples likes, and dislikes were recorded in people’s support plan and staff knew people and their preferences well. People’s communication needs were in their plans.
People spoke highly of the management team who they said was approachable and supportive. The registered manager understood the regulatory requirements. People told us they thought the service was well led.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 30 August 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.