Dudley Court Care Limited

Updated 25 August 2023

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 this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Dudley Court Care Limited 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. Dudley Court Care Limited is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced on the first day with an announced visit on the second day.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we have 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.

We also reviewed the Healthwatch website. This is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England.

During the inspection

We spoke with 5 people, 2 relatives, 5 staff members including catering, domestic and care staff. We spoke with the registered manager, the deputy manager and the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 4 people's care plans, quality assurance records and multiple medication records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 25 August 2023

About the service

Dudley Court Care home is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 22 people in one building. The service provided support to people over 65, some living with early on-set dementia, people under 65 and people living with a mental health condition. At the time of our inspection there were 19 people using the service.

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

People felt safe and were protected from risk of abuse because staff knew what action to take to safeguard people. Information for specific medical conditions was available for staff to read, providing them with guidance on how best to support people safely. There were enough staff on duty to meet people’s needs. Medication was stored and administered safely. People told us they received their medication when they needed it. The home environment was clean. Processes were in place to record and learn from any incidents and accidents.

People and their family members told us they had been involved in the planning and review of their care needs. People’s needs were assessed before joining the service. Staff had received appropriate training to support people safely. People told us they enjoyed the food. People’s hydration and nutritional needs were being met. Health and social care professionals provided support to people to make sure their health and well-being was maintained.

Staff sought people’s consent before providing care and support. 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.

People told us staff were kind, caring and considerate. People were consulted and involved in daily decisions made about their care and support. The provider ensured people had the support of an advocate if required. An advocate is an independent professional that will help people understand their legal rights, be their voice to express their views and wishes to make sure they are heard.

People received responsive, person centred care. People, and where appropriate, their family members, were actively involved in planning their care needs. People and their family members told us there was a range of different hobbies, activities and interests to reduce risk of social isolation and encourage people to access community facilities. People and family members told us they had not raised any complaints but knew who they would need to speak with should they be unhappy with the service. Processes were in place to investigate any issues or concerns and use the opportunity for learning.

People and their families were regularly involved with the provider’s service in a meaningful way through their feedback. Staff had confidence in the provider and registered manager and told us they were happy and enjoyed working at the home. Processes were in place to monitor the quality of the service being provided and any identified actions were promptly actioned, and measures put in place to mitigate reoccurrence.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 19 June 2021) and there were breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about medication, staffing numbers, staff training and poor pre-assessment processes of people’s needs. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from these concerns. Please see the Safe key question section of this full report.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Dudley Court Care Limited on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

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