Archived: Dimensions 5-6 Duchess Close

Updated 2 March 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 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.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Dimensions 5-6 Duchess Close 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. Dimensions 5-6 Duchess Close is a care home without nursing care. 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 announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

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 one person who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four members of staff including the registered manager, assistant manager and two support workers.

Some people who used the service were unable to speak with us due to the complex nature of their needs. We used observations during the inspection to gain an understanding of how they experienced the care that they received.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people's care and medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and 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 requested feedback from professionals who recently worked with the service. We spoke with three relatives of people who used the service about their experience of the care provided.

Updated 2 March 2022

About the service

Dimensions 5-6 Duchess Close is a residential care home providing personal care to people with a learning disability, autism and/or complex needs. Dimensions 5-6 Duchess Close accommodates up to six people in two buildings. At the time of this inspection, five people were using the service.

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

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

Based on our review of safe and well-led, the service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting some of the underpinning principles of right support, right care, right culture.

Right support

Staff focused on people's strengths and promoted what they could do, so people had a fulfilling everyday life. Staff supported people to take part in activities and pursue their interests in the local area. One person told us, “I enjoy going to college. It helps me a lot.”

Right care

People received care from staff who were kind and compassionate. Staff protected and respected people's privacy and dignity. People were supported by staff who had clear understanding of safeguarding and abuse. People were kept safe from avoidable harm because staff knew them well and understood how to protect them from abuse. The service worked well with other agencies to do so. Risk assessments were in place which guided staff in caring for people in a safe way. People received person-centred care. Care was provided according to people’s individual needs and wishes. One staff member said, "We work with people and their relatives, making sure their views are taken into consideration and respected.”

Right culture

Staff were knowledgeable and spoke confidently on how they supported people to lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives. The registered manager and staff were open and transparent throughout our inspection and demonstrated their commitment to providing good quality care. People and those important to them, including advocates, were involved in planning their care.

The service was clean and hygienic. Enhanced cleaning took place on a daily basis. Communal spaces were well ventilated and used creatively to ensure people could continue to interact with each other and staff in a safe way.

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

Rating at last inspection and updates

The last rating for this service was good (published 12 October 2017).

At our last inspection we recommended that the provider seek advice and guidance from a reputable source on how to complete comprehensive risk assessment documentation that provides adequate risk mitigation for people living at the service. At this inspection we found the provider had made improvements and acted on the recommendation made.

Why we inspected

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 looked at the key questions of Safe and Well Led.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Dimensions 5-6 Duchess Close on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.