25 September 2017
During a routine inspection
At this inspection we found the provider had made the necessary improvements and the service was removed from being in ‘special measures’. However at the time of this inspection these systems were still being embedded and the provider had not yet had the chance to demonstrate that the improvements would be sustained.
Dale House Care Centre is situated in Wellingborough in Northamptonshire. The service provides nursing and residential care for up to 66 older people, requiring nursing and dementia care. At the time of our inspection 22 people were using the service. The service was in administration, as the business was being sold to a new provider.
We were informed that the registered manager had recently resigned and the management of the service was being overseen by the deputy manager, supported by a representative from the administration company. 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.
Systems were in place to ensure that appropriate recruitment checks were carried out. However background checks requiring further investigation had not always been recorded.
All staff treated people with dignity and respect. However there was a need to further support and develop the staff to effectively support and enhance the well-being of people living with dementia.
The staffing levels were sufficient to meet people's needs. People felt safe and staff were aware of their responsibilities to protect people from harm. Systems were in place to ensure medicines were being managed safely and people received their medicines as prescribed.
Systems were in place to ensure staff received training and on-going support through one to one supervision to discuss their work, training and development needs.
The staff followed the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 when caring for people that lacked the capacity to make their own decisions. Consent to arrangements for care, treatment and support was sought from people or other relevant people and best interests’ decisions were in place where appropriate.
An activity person had been appointed and a programme of daily activities was in place, people had been consulted about the activities they wanted to have in place.
People received a varied and nutritious diet that met their likes and dislikes, food intolerances, allergies, medical and cultural needs. People’s healthcare needs were met, and they were supported to access the advice and support of other healthcare professionals as and when required.
Care plans had been reviewed and updated to reflect people’s current needs. A resident of the day programme had been implemented; each day one person’s care was fully reviewed to ensure the care they received was relevant to their current needs. The provider had systems in place to receive and respond to any complaints or feedback brought to their attention and they took appropriate action to address complaints in line with their complaints policy.
The quality assurance procedures at the service had been fully reviewed, a range of scheduled audits were being carried out. Areas identified for further improvement had action plans in place with deadlines for the actions to be achieved.