Background to this inspection
Updated
20 June 2019
The inspection:
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team: An inspector and an expert by experience carried out the inspection. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. Our expert by experience had cared for older people with a range of health needs.
Service and service type: Residential home for older people and people living with learning disabilities.
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: Unannounced
What we did:
We reviewed the information we held about the service, including statutory notifications that the provider had sent us. A statutory notification provides information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. We also contacted health and social care commissioners who place and monitor the care of people living in the home.
During this inspection we spoke with seven people using the service and two visiting relatives. We spent time observing people’s care and how staff interacted with them. We also spoke with five members of staff including the provider, the registered manager and three care staff.
We looked at the care records of three people who used the service. We also looked at records relating to the management and running of the service. These included two staff recruitment files, training and supervision records and the registered manager’s plan for continually improving the service.
Updated
20 June 2019
At our last inspection on 10 December 2018 we found that the provider had made essential improvements to the home. They had improved the décor and cleanliness of the home. However, at this inspection we found that continued improvements were still required to ensure the design and layout of the home met people’s needs, for example allowing people to make use of a conservatory when they wanted.
In six inspections since June 2015 the provider has been rated either Inadequate (twice) or Requires Improvement. The service has improved from an overall rating of Inadequate in June 2018 to Requires Improvement in December 2018 but failed to achieve Good rating. This demonstrates the provider has not been able make required and sustainable improvements.
What life is like for people using this service:
People told us they felt safe at Dallington House. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities to safeguard people from the risk of harm. Risk assessments were in place and were reviewed regularly; people received their care as planned to mitigate their assessed risks.
People received care from enough staff that had received training and support to carry out their roles. People were supported to have enough to eat and drink to maintain their health and well-being.
People were supported to access relevant health and social care professionals. There were systems in place to manage medicines in a safe way.
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.
Staff understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act, 2005 (MCA). They obtained people's consent before providing personal care. People were involved in the planning of their care which was person centred and updated regularly.
People were encouraged to make decisions about how their care was provided and their privacy and dignity were protected and promoted. People had developed positive relationships with staff.
Staff had a good understanding of people's needs and preferences. Staff involved people’s relatives in decisions about their care and kept them informed about their family members.
Staff supported some people to follow their interests and hobbies. Some people were supported to visit places of interest. However, a minority of people had little by way of stimulation or interesting things to do.
People using the service and their relatives knew how to raise a concern or make a complaint. There was a complaints system in place and people were confident that any complaints would be responded to appropriately.
Rating at last inspection: Requires improvement (published 9 January 2019).
About the service:
Dallington House Care Home provides accommodation and personal care for up to 16 older people, some of whom were living with dementia or learning disabilities. On the day of our visit, there were 13 people using the service.
Why we inspected:
We carried out this inspection to follow up from our inspection in December 2018 where we found the service required improvement.
Follow up:
We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.
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