Dean Park

Updated 16 February 2022

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 3 February 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours-notice of the inspection.

Updated 16 February 2022

This unannounced inspection took place on 14 November 2018. At our last inspection in May 2016 we rated the service Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated Good.

Dean Park is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Dean Park is one of two care homes located in two adjacent semi-detached houses run by Optimal Care. It provides care and support for up to five people with learning disabilities. There were four people using the service at the time of the inspection.

The care service had been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

There was a registered manager in post. 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.’

People continued to receive safe care and there were enough staff to meet people’s needs. Staff had been suitably recruited to ensure they were able to work with vulnerable people. People had risk assessments in place to enable them to be as independent as possible. Staff were able to recognise abuse and knew how to report it appropriately.

The service was very effective. Staff received appropriate support to carry out their roles on a day-to-day basis through structured supervisions and appraisals. Staff were well-trained and the service aimed to facilitate their further professional development. The service worked well in cooperation with other professionals to ensure people’s needs were met safely. 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 of the service supported this practice. People had access to health care professionals and staff ensured people led healthier lives.

The service remained caring. Staff were considerate, kind and helpful to people. Their knowledge of the individual choices and preferences of people enabled them to provide people with relevant care and support. People were involved in the planning and review of their care and people’s family members continued to play an important role in these processes as well. People's privacy and dignity were maintained at all times.

The service was responsive to people’s needs and wishes. People and their relatives told us that staff went over and above the call of duty. People and their relatives also said this made a profound difference to their lives. The management appreciated and acted on people's and relatives’ opinions on the service.

The service continued to be well-led. People and staff had confidence in the manager as their leader and were complimentary about the positive culture within the service. There were systems and processes in place to help monitor the quality of the care people received.