Dunster Lodge Residential Home

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

Safe – this means we looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.

This service scored 66 (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 had a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. Staff listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice.

There was a new management team at the home who were committed to learning and making improvements. For example, a new audit format had been put in place to monitor incidents and accidents which was more robust and would identify any trends or patterns.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed or monitored. They made sure there was continuity of care, including when people moved between different services.

The staff worked with other professionals to make sure people received consistent care. For example, the manager told us they made sure people only moved to the home once any specialist equipment was in place to meet their needs. This helped to make sure staff were able to support people safely.

The provider worked with people and health and social care partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. Staff concentrated on improving people’s lives while protecting their right to live in safety, free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm and neglect. The provider shared concerns quickly and appropriately.

People felt safe at the home. One person said, “I feel safe knowing there are always people around.”

Staff knew how to raise concerns and were confident that any issues highlighted would be fully investigated. One member of staff said they would speak with the manager. They told us, “I know they would listen and act.”

The provider made appropriate applications for people to be legally deprived of their liberty where they required this level of legal protection to keep them safe.

The provider worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. Staff provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them.

Risk assessments were carried out to minimise risks to people whilst enabling them to retain their independence and choice where possible. Individual risk assessments were completed for people in respect of falls, nutrition and skin integrity. Care plans gave staff the information they required to minimise risks, such as helping people to move around to promote their skin health.

On the first day of the inspection, we highlighted that environmental risk assessments needed to be more comprehensive to make sure risks to people were minimised. These had been completed by the second day of the inspection and additional control measures were in place where needed.

Some improvements were needed to make sure the provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment.

On the first day of the inspection, we highlighted some environmental issues which needed urgent attention to maintain people’s safety. The provider acted promptly to rectify these concerns and put in place more robust checks.

Regular checks and servicing were carried out to ensure equipment, such as fire detecting equipment was safe.

Dunster Lodge is an old building. Some areas would benefit from redecoration to make sure it provided a pleasant environment for people.

The provider made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. They worked together well to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs.

People generally felt there were enough staff to meet their needs and provide social stimulation. One person, who told us they like to stay in their room, said, “They are always popping in to see if there is anything I want and for a chat.”

People were cared for by staff who had been safely recruited. Records showed appropriate checks were carried out before staff began work at the home.

Staff were satisfied with the training they received. Most training provided was online, but the provider was looking at how they could provide more in person training for staff. This included upskilling a member of staff who would be able to deliver some in house training and sourcing other face to face training. A visiting relative told us they were confident staff had the skills needed to provide safe and effective care.

The provider assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly. However, some areas, such as communal washrooms, would benefit from refurbishment to ensure good standards of hygiene could be maintained.

Staff had access to personal protective equipment such as disposable gloves and aprons. During our inspection visits we saw staff used these appropriately to minimise the risks of the spread of infection.

There were regular infection control audits carried out and action was taken when shortfalls were identified. Actions taken included further training for a member of staff.

The provider made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs.

People received their medicines safely and as prescribed. Staff had received relevant training to administer medicines, and had their competency assessed.

There were appropriate arrangements for the ordering, storage, and disposal of medicines. The medicine room and medicines requiring cold storage had regular temperature checks carried out to ensure it remained within safe and effective limits.

There were protocols in place for medicines prescribed ‘as required.’

Where people needed their medicines administered at specific times they received them promptly.

The manager had implemented a new role of a medicine lead, who monitored medicines at the home.

People told us they were happy with how their medicines were managed. One person told us, “I get the right tablets at the right time. I know because I count them."