Archived: Dinnington

We last inspected this service in June 2015, when it was found to be complying with all the regulations and we rated the service as ‘Good.’.

Dinnington is a small residential care home for two adults with mild learning disabilities. Two people were living there at the time of this inspection who did not require assistance with their personal care but did need support to manage a specific health condition. We discussed with the manager the current registration of the service and heard how they were looking at whether the service could be run as independent supported living accommodation.

The service had a registered manager who had been in post since 2012. 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 manager was registered manager for another two of the provider's services, namely a care homes and a domiciliary care agency so spent their time between these services.

People told us they felt safe and protected in the service. They said they were well looked after by the staff. Any risks they might encounter in their daily lives were assessed by the staff and actions were taken to minimise any harm to them. Staff had been trained in safeguarding issues and knew how to recognise and report any abuse.

People’s medicines were managed safely.

There were enough staff to meet people’s needs in a timely way, and to support people to have a good quality of life. Any new staff were carefully checked to make sure they were suitable for working with vulnerable people.

There was an established and experienced staff team who had a good knowledge of people’s needs and preferences. They were given support by means of regular training, supervision and appraisal.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Staff had been trained in this area and were aware of their responsibilities regarding protecting people’s rights. However the manager needed to ensure when ‘best interests’ decisions were made a record was kept of all the people involved in making this decision.

People’s specialist dietary needs were fully understood and they were supported to have a healthy and enjoyable diet.

People’s health needs were regularly assessed and managed. Staff responded promptly to any changes in a person’s health or general demeanour.

People told us they were well cared for and were happy and contented in the service. They told us staff treated them respectfully and protected their privacy and dignity at all times.

People felt involved in their care and support. They said they were encouraged to make choices about their lives and to be as independent as possible.

Clear, person-centred support plans were in place to meet people’s assessed needs. These plans incorporated people’s wishes and preferences about how their support was to be given.

People enjoyed active social lives and were supported to use the full range of community resources.

People told us they had no complaints about their care, but would feel able to share any concerns they had with their support workers.

Systems were in place for auditing the quality of the service and for making improvements.

' Is the service safe?

' Is the service effective?

' Is the service caring?

' Is the service responsive?

' Is the service well-led?

This is a summary of what we found-

Is the service safe?

There were enough staff on duty to meet the needs of the people living at the home and a member of the management team was available on call in case of emergencies.

Staff personnel records contained all the information required by the Health and Social Care Act. This meant the provider could demonstrate that the staff employed to work at the home were suitable and had the skills and experience needed to support the people living in the home.

People's prescribed medicines were safely stored and administered.

CQC monitors the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards which applies to care homes. While no applications had needed to be submitted, proper policies and procedures were in place.

Is the service effective?

People told us that they were happy with the care that had been delivered and their needs had been met. It was clear from our observations and from speaking with staff that they had a good understanding of the people's care and support needs and that they knew them well.

People were asked to give their consent to how their care was given. One person told us, 'I can do anything I like here.'

Staff had received training to meet the needs of the people living at the home.

Is the service caring?

People were supported by kind and attentive staff, who showed patience and gave encouragement when supporting people. People told us they were able to do things at their own pace and were not rushed. Our observations confirmed this. One person said, 'The staff are kind and look after me well.'

Is the service responsive?

People's needs had been assessed before they moved into the home. People told us they had been asked for their views and these had been recorded. Records confirmed people's preferences, interests, aspirations and diverse needs had been recorded and care and support had been provided in accordance with people's wishes. One person told us, 'I make my own decisions.' People had good access to activities that were important to them and had been supported to maintain personal relationships with their friends and relatives.

Is the service well-led?

Staff had a good understanding of the ethos of the home and effective quality assurance processes were in place. People who used the service were asked for their views about their care and treatment in regular meetings and their views were acted upon. One person told us she could say anything she liked to the staff and they would always listen to her and try to help her.

Staff spoke highly of the manager, and said she always took their views into consideration. One support worker told us, 'I feel the manager listens to us ' we are well supported.'

Staff told us they were clear about their roles and responsibilities, and had access to company policies and guidance.