Archived: Dumpton Lodge

Updated 8 October 2022

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was completed by one inspector.

Service and service type

Dumpton Lodge is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Dumpton Lodge is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

Inspection activity started on 7 April 2022 and ended on 12 April 2022. We visited the location’s office/service on 7 April 2022.

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. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people about their experience of living at the service and three relatives. We observed staff interactions with people in the communal areas. We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager, the nominated individual, a senior carer and carer. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care plans and all the medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including checks and audits, were also reviewed.

Updated 8 October 2022

About the service

Dumpton Lodge is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 28 older people who may be living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 27 people being supported in one large adapted building.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People told us they felt safe living at the service. However, the provider and registered manager had not acted to mitigate risks to people to keep them as safe as possible. There was a new registered manager since the last inspection; the service had not improved.

Potential risks to people’s health and welfare had been assessed but when people’s needs changed risk assessments had not been changed to reflect this. Information in people’s care plans was not always consistent or accurate. Staff knew people well and were able to explain how they supported people.

There had been a large number of falls recorded in the year before the inspection, these had not been analysed for patterns or trends and this put people at risk of further falls. Though some action had been taken on an individual level, this had not been reviewed to check if the action had been effective.

Staff had not always been recruited safely. There was not always enough staff to support people when needed. People complained they had to wait to be assisted at night.

Checks and audits had not been effective in identifying the shortfalls found at this inspection. The provider visited the service regularly but had limited oversight of the quality of the service. People, relatives and staff had been given the opportunity to express their opinion of the quality of the service. The responses to quality assurance surveys had not been analysed to identify patterns and trends.

Opinions on the culture within the service varied. Some relatives were not comfortable to raise concerns and felt staff were defensive in their attitude when concerns were raised.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Medicines were managed safely. The service worked with other health professionals to support people to access the support they need. The registered manager and staff understood their responsibilities to report concerns to the local safeguarding authority.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 8 February 2020) and there was a breach of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found the provider remained in breach of regulations. This service has been rated requires improvement for the last three consecutive inspections.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service and the previous rating.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 9 January 2020. Breaches of legal requirements were found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve good governance.

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe and Well-led which contain those requirements.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has remained requires improvement. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Dumpton Lodge on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to monitor the service and will take further action if needed.

We have identified breaches in relation to safe care and treatment, good governance, staffing and fit and proper persons employed at this inspection.

Full information about CQC’s regulatory response to the more serious concerns found during inspections is added to reports after any representations and appeals have been concluded.

Follow up

We will meet with the provider following this report being published to discuss how they will make changes to ensure they improve their rating to at least good. We will work with the local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.