Dove Court

Updated 15 February 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.

We received information of concern about visiting arrangements at this service. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures 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.

Inspection team.

This unannounced inspection was undertaken by one inspector and took place on 4 February 2022. We gave the service a short period of notice so we could adhere to their policies before entering the service.

Updated 15 February 2022

Dove Court is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service accommodates up to 76 people in a two-storey building which is served by a main lift to the upper floor. Nursing care is not provided.

At our earlier comprehensive inspection in May 2017 we found two breaches of regulations that related to the providers failure to report incidents to the proper authorities and the failure to notify CQC of events they are required to by law. The service was rated as requires improvement. This unannounced inspection took place on 15 and17 May 2018. The service is now rated as good.

The service had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People felt safe and staff were aware of risks to people’s wellbeing and how to manage them and protect people from harm. There is an open culture from learning from mistakes, concerns, accidents and incidents to improve staff practice and prevent reoccurrence. Medicines were stored and administered safely and medicine administration records were accurate. Regular cleaning of the service ensured that infection control was maintained and action was taken to address any cleaning issues. Staff followed the correct procedures to prevent and control the spread of infection.

There was a robust recruitment process in place that helped to reduce the risk of unsuitable staff being employed. There were sufficient numbers of staff with the right skills and abilities to support people when they needed it.

Assessments of people’s support needs were carried out before the person was offered a place at the service. This ensured the service could provide the right care and support they needed, in the way they preferred. Technology and equipment were used to enhance the support provided to people.

Staff received induction, training and support to enable them to do their job well. People's nutritional needs were met and people were supported to have enough to eat and drink. A range of external health and social care professionals worked with the staff team to support people to maintain their health and well-being.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.

People and their relatives were involved in planning their care. Information about independent advocacy services was available for people to assist them with any decisions they wished to make. Staff respected people’s privacy and dignity and encouraged people to remain as independent as possible.

Detailed and informative care plans provided guidance to staff about the level and type of care and support each person needed. Staff encouraged people to participate in activities and interests of their choice.

The service had received many compliments from people and their relatives. Staff were happy to be working at the service. A complaints procedure was in place and visible to inform people on how to raise a complaint if they needed.

Meetings and surveys provided people and their relatives opportunities to give their views about the service and how it could be improved.

The provider was aware of their responsibility to uphold legal requirements, including notifying the CQC of various matters. The management team worked in partnership with other professionals to ensure people received joined-up care.