Archived: Deepdene Care Centre

Updated 6 November 2018

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.

The inspection took place on 16 October 2018 and was unannounced. This was a comprehensive inspection carried out by four inspectors and an expert by experience. An expert by experience has experience of caring for or knowing someone who has lived in this type of setting.

Before the inspection we reviewed the evidence we had about the service. This included any notifications of significant events, such as serious injuries or safeguarding referrals. Notifications are information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. This enabled us to ensure we were addressing potential areas of concern at our inspection.

We contacted social care professionals for their views of the service before we visited. We received feedback from five which we have included in our report.

During the inspection we spoke with nine people who lived at the home and two relatives. We also spoke with 11 members of staff plus the registered manager and deputy manager. If people were unable to tell us directly about their experience, we observed the care they received and the interactions they had with staff. We looked at nine people’s care records, including their assessments, care plans and risk assessments. We checked training records, four staff recruitment files and how medicines were managed. We also looked at health and safety checks, quality monitoring checks and the results of the provider’s latest satisfaction surveys.

Updated 6 November 2018

Deepdene 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. Deepdene accommodates 66 people in one adapted building. The building is over three floors each with their own lounge and dining rooms.

At the time of our unannounced inspection on 16 October 2018 there were 57 older people living at the home, many of whom were living with dementia.

There was a registered manager in place. 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. The registered manager assisted us with our inspection.

We last inspected Deepdene in September 2017 when we rated the service as Requires Improvement. This was because we found shortfalls in person-centred care plans, record keeping and governance. Following that inspection, the registered manager sent us an action plan telling us how when they planned to meet the regulations. We checked at this inspection whether or not they had followed their action plan and we found they had.

People lived in an environment that was adapted for their needs, checked for its safety and free from infection due to the good processes staff followed. People received the medicines they required and were supported to access healthcare professionals when needed. People’s risks had been identified and staff followed good practices to help ensure risks to people were reduced and as such accidents and incidents occurred less. Staff also recognised their responsibility in safeguarding in order to keep people safe from abuse.

People were cared for by a sufficient number of staff who had undergone induction and training for their role and had continued support from their line managers. Staff told us the culture within the staff team was good and the registered manager led the service well. Staff had undergone robust recruitment processes to help ensure they were suitable to work in the service.

People’s needs were assessed before they moved into the service. These pre-assessments formed the basis of their person-centred care plan which contained sufficient information to enable staff to provide effective and responsive care. People were enabled to make decisions about their care, remain independent and participate in activities in they wished.

Staff demonstrated a kind, caring and attentive approach to people and people told us they were shown respect and dignity. People were given a choice of foods and where people had specific dietary needs these were recognised. People were supported to maintain relationships that meant something to them. Where people had end of life wishes these were limited in their detail. We have issued a recommendation to the registered provider in this respect.

People’s consent was sought before care was carried out and where restrictions were in place for people staff followed the appropriate processes. People and relative’s complaints were listened to and responded to appropriately. We read the service had received many compliments and where people had made suggestions these were addressed. Staff also had the opportunity to provide feedback to make improvements. The registered manager worked with external agencies to help ensure continued improvement within the service for the benefit of people.

Health and safety checks were carried out within the service and on-going auditing undertaken to help ensure a good quality of care was provided. The registered manager submitted notifications in line with requirements.