The Daltons

Updated 22 January 2022

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of COVID-19, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practice is safe and that services are compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 13 January 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection.

Updated 22 January 2022

This inspection took place on 23 August 2018 and was announced. The Daltons was last inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) on 4 and 8 February 2016 and was rated Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of 'Good' and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risk or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

The Daltons 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 Daltons accommodates up to 6 people up to the age of 26 who have additional learning needs and/or mental health issues. The home provides people with opportunities to develop independence skills and coping strategies. On the day of our inspection there were six people using the service. People who used the service and their relatives were complimentary about the standard of care at The Daltons.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

The registered manager understood their responsibilities about safeguarding and staff had been trained in safeguarding vulnerable adults. The home was clean, spacious and suitable for the people who used the service. The provider had effective procedures in place for managing the maintenance of the premises and appropriate health and safety checks were carried out. Accidents and incidents were appropriately recorded and risk assessments were in place where required. Appropriate arrangements were in place for the safe management and administration of medicines.

The provider had an effective recruitment and selection procedure in place and carried out relevant checks when they employed staff. There were sufficient numbers of staff on duty to meet the needs of people who used the service. Staff were supported to provide care to people who used the service through a range of mandatory training, supervision and appraisal. Staff said they felt supported by the registered manager.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. People were protected from the risk of poor nutrition and staff were aware of people’s nutritional needs. People had access to healthcare services and received ongoing healthcare support.

The service complied with Article 12 of the UN Convention on Children’s Rights which states every child has the right to express their views, feeling and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously. The service had arrangements in place to give people a voice in matters which affected them.

Staff treated people with dignity and respect and helped to maintain people’s independence. People were offered choices by staff to participate in activities which supported their growth and learning as well as increased their confidence.

The service commissioned a psychologist who visited the service weekly to provide support to people and staff. This meant there was a psychological perspective in the service which promoted people’s growth and potential.

Care records showed people’s needs were assessed before they started using the service and care plans were written in a person-centred way and reviewed regularly. Person-centred is about ensuring the person is at the centre of any care or support and their individual wishes, needs and choices are taken into account.

The provider had an effective complaints procedure in place and people who used the service and their relatives were aware of how to make a complaint. The provider had a quality assurance process in place. People who used the service and staff were regularly consulted about the quality of the service through meetings and surveys.