- Care home
Dickley Court
Assessment report published 1 April 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of assessment 16 December 2025 to 09 January 2026. We completed this assessment because of the age of the rating of the service. We carried out a comprehensive assessment. Dickley Court is a residential care home providing accommodation for persons who require personal care. It can provide care for up to 13 people. The service is registered to provide support to children 13-18 years, older people, younger adults, people living with dementia, people with sensory impairments, people with learning disabilities, autistic people and people with physical disabilities. The service provided short breaks to people, providing respite care to people and their families. At the time of our assessment 5 people were staying at the service.
The service is also registered to provide care and support to people in supported living premises in the community. We have written a separate report about the supported living service.
An assessment has been undertaken of a service that is used by autistic people or people with a learning disability but is not registered as a specialist service. We have assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.
We identified breaches of regulations relating to risk management, maintaining the environment and good governance. There had been a lack of management oversight of building related risks which had the potential to cause harm. The building had not always been adequately maintained. The provider’s audit systems had not always detected issues identified in the assessment. Staff told us they received appropriate training and support to enable them to care for people safely. Before people accessed the service their needs were assessed. We observed there was enough staff on shift to support people. Staffing was adjusted to each person’s assessed needs. Staff worked with health professionals to ensure people got the care and support they needed. The provider had systems and processes in place to promote and support staff wellbeing. Not all staff were aware of these and the provider planned to promote this further in 2026.
We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.
People were protected from poor care and abuse. The provider had policies in place and staff had been trained. Safeguarding concerns were reported to the appropriate authorities and the manager worked with the local safeguarding teams to ensure any issues were fully investigated.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
The service had systems and processes in place to safely administer medicines. Staff supported people to take part in activities of their choice. People were supported to pursue interests in the local area.
People's experience of this service
We observed staff interactions with people and observed care and support in communal areas. We observed kind and caring interactions between staff and people. Staff treated people with kindness and knew people well. Staff spent time with people encouraging them to participate in activities and to develop and maintain important relationships. People had opportunities to go out into the community. Some people were not able to verbally communicate their needs and wishes. People told us they were happy and enjoyed using Dickley Court for their short stays. Relatives told us the support the service offered was not just for their loved ones who were accessing the service, they said it extended to themselves. Comments included, “I know he is safe there”, “Overall good care, I am happy with Symbol [Provider]”, “I love it, and he is really happy to go, he gives a gesture to show he is pleased. He enjoys going out, he is always going out, bowling, cinema. And they always give me good feedback. He has very few words, but they understand his needs” and “He used Symbol before that as he went to youth club and the carer from there shadowed for him to go to Dickley. It was an excellent transition, part of an extended family, they know him inside out.”