Dunsford

Updated 22 May 2019

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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team:

This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type:

Dunsford 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.

The registered provider employed a manager who was registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the home is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

The service worked within the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensured that people could live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence.

Notice of inspection:

This inspection was announced. We gave the registered manager a short period of notice because people who live there were often out at work or engaging in leisure activities. We wanted to be sure they were offered the opportunity to participate in the inspection.

What we did:

Before the inspection, the registered provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the registered provider to give some key information about the home, what the home does well and improvements they plan to make. The registered provider returned the PIR and we took this into account when we made our judgements in this report.

We reviewed other information that we held about the home such as notifications. These are events that happen in the home that the registered provider is required to tell us about. We considered the last inspection report and we had contact with commissioners who had a contract with the registered provider.

We spoke with four people who lived in the home and observed how staff interacted with them. We spoke with the registered manager, three of the care staff and the registered provider’s operations manager. Following the inspection, we also spoke with one member of staff by telephone.

We looked at the care records for two people and we looked around the premises with two people who lived there. We looked at records in relation to the management of the home such as quality assurance checks, staff training and recruitment records, safeguarding information and accidents and incident information.

Updated 22 May 2019

About the service:

Dunsford is a care home situated in the town of Spilsby, Lincolnshire. The home can accommodate up to 10 people who experience learning disabilities and/or autistic spectrum disorder. The accommodation is made up of one house which can accommodate eight people and an adjoining flat which can accommodate two people. On the day of the inspection nine people were living at Dunsford.

People’s experience of using this service:

People told us they were safe living at Dunsford. Staff knew how to keep people safe and report any situations where they felt people may be at risk of abuse or harm. Risks to people’s health, safety and welfare were identified and managed effectively.

People were treated with respect and kindness by staff who knew them well. They were supported to maintain and develop their independence, express their views and make their own decisions wherever they were able to. Staff supported and maintained people’s privacy and dignity.

People were involved in planning and reviewing their care. They were also fully involved in the way the home was run.

There were enough staff to ensure people’s needs and wishes were met. Staff were well trained and supported to provide a high quality of care for people.

The registered manager promoted a relaxed and open atmosphere within the home. There were effective systems in place to monitor the quality of care provided and ensure actions were taken where shortfalls were identified.

Rating at last inspection:

Dunsford was last inspected on 2 June 2016 (report published 2 August 2016) and was rated as good overall with a requires improvement rating for the well-led section of the report.

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection.

At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support a rating of good overall. Improvements had been made to the ways in which the home was run and we increased the previous rating for the well-led section of the report to good. More information can be found in the 'Detailed Findings' below.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about Dunsford until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.