Dearne Valley Care Centre

On this page

• Overview
• Kindness, compassion and dignity
• Treating people as individuals
• Independence, choice and control
• Responding to people’s immediate needs
• Workforce wellbeing and enablement

Caring – this means we looked for evidence that the provider involved people and treated them with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect. At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good. This meant people were supported and treated with dignity and respect; and involved as partners in their care.

This service scored 85 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The provider was exceptional at treating people with kindness, empathy and compassion and in how they respected people’s privacy and dignity. Staff always treated colleagues from other organisations with kindness and respect.

People consistently described exceptional levels of kindness and compassion from staff. Comments included, “Staff are really kind and really care about you,” and “Staff are great, I can’t knock them.” People told us the environment felt calm and respectful, saying, “No one bothers one another.”

Staff developed trusting and meaningful relationships. Their approach created a genuinely inclusive and supportive culture where people felt valued, safe and treated with dignity at all times. People were supported by staff who knew them well, and we observed friendly and appropriate conversations shared between them. One relative said, “You can see how kind and caring the staff are to everyone there. I have never seen any mistreatment or raised voices.” Another relative said, “I couldn’t be more pleased. They staff are so dedicated and caring towards [relative] and they positively encourage the family connection.”

We observed consistently warm and compassionate interactions between staff and people. Staff communicated at eye level, offered appropriate reassurance through touch, and showed genuine interest in people as individuals. People responded positively, smiling and engaging with staff.

Staff consistently respected people’s privacy and dignity by knocking before entering rooms, closing doors during personal care, and ensuring clothing was adjusted appropriately when using moving equipment.

The registered manager and staff team ensured they maintained their responsibilities in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). GDPR is a legal framework that sets guidelines for the collection and processing of personal information of individuals. Records were stored safely which maintained people's confidentiality.

The provider treated people as individuals and was exceptional in how they made sure people’s care, support and treatment met people’s needs and preferences. The provider took account of people’s strengths, abilities, aspirations, culture and unique backgrounds and protected characteristics.

The service had a strong, values‑led culture where people were treated as unique individuals and supported to live meaningful, fulfilling lives.

Staff demonstrated an in‑depth understanding of people’s backgrounds, preferences, strengths and aspirations, and used this knowledge to deliver person‑centred care. People were actively supported to make choices about their daily lives, promoting independence, confidence and dignity. One relative said, “I feel [relative] still has choices about their day, but they do seem to enjoy the recreational area with everyone else and does join in, so [relative] isn’t isolated. [Relative] used to be a loner and wasn’t interested in interacting, but that has certainly changed.” Another relative said, “[Person] has been encouraged to try some activities since being there, which has surprised me as they are normally a very quiet person, but they [staff] treat them as an individual and pick up signs when they really don’t want to do something.”

Staff responded sensitively when people were distressed and adapted their approach to meet both emotional and physical needs. They prioritised continuity of care, which allowed familiar staff to build strong relationships and respond quickly to any changes in people’s needs. Staff developed personalised care plans, reviewed them regularly and ensured they reflected people’s personal goals, cultural identity and lifestyle choices. They fully involved people and their families in this process.

The provider promoted people’s independence, so people knew their rights and had choice and control over their own care, treatment and wellbeing.

People told us they felt safe because staff helped them maintain their independence. We saw robust systems in place to assess and manage risks appropriately. Staff demonstrated a caring and respectful approach that supported people to take positive risks in a way that upheld their dignity, choice and emotional wellbeing. They took time to understand each person’s preferences, fears and aspirations, building trusting relationships that enabled individuals to feel safe when trying new experiences. One relative said, “[Relative] loves their baths (as often as they can) and the carers helped [relative] get over their fears of being hoisted by distracting [relative].”

The provider listened to and understood people’s needs, views and wishes. Staff responded to people’s needs in the moment and acted to minimise any discomfort, concern or distress.

The provider listened to and understood people’s needs, views and wishes effectively. Staff responded to people’s needs in the moment and acted promptly to minimise any discomfort, concern or distress. Staff had a good understanding of people’s needs and preferences. People and their relatives spoke about how the support was adapted to meet their changing needs. People spoke about support being offered in a calm and unhurried manner, ensuring their comfort and safety. One relative said, “I feel very comfortable when I visit and the carers always seem to be responding to someone’s needs, even in the early evening when I visit after work.”

The provider focused on staff wellbeing and created a supportive culture that helped staff deliver person‑centred care.

Staff described a positive workplace culture where they felt able to share ideas, adapt to change and work together to solve problems. They felt confident seeking support and praised the management team’s skills, knowledge, and dedication to service development. Regular supervision, including one-to-one sessions, appraisals, peer support, and team meetings, provided opportunities for reflection, learning, and sharing best practice. These meetings enabled staff to explore topics relevant to their roles and the needs of people using the service. Staff told us this made them feel supported, respected, and involved in the direction of the service.

The provider demonstrated a strong commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, with policies in place to uphold these values and ensure the service remained responsive to diverse needs.