Dalesview Partnership Supported Living

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 81 (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.

Systems and processes were in place to report, investigate and share learning from safety events.

Staff were encouraged to raise concerns and confidently spoke about what they would do in the event of an incident or accident; confirming appropriate action was taken. A staff member said, “Safety concerns are listened to. I raised something in the past about [guidelines to support people with eating and drinking] not being followed and this was followed up on.”

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

The service had created pictorial guides, and an intensive timetable of visits to enable people to familiarise themselves with the environment and staff prior to moving in. This helped minimise anxieties and distress attributed to change. From the initial referral, the service worked very closely with people, relatives, partners and other services to plan excellent care and support. The process spanned several months, and included observations carried out at schools, colleges or people’s family homes. This ensured staff were fully aware of people’s needs, could better understand their individual routines and adopt a consistent approach.

The service heavily involved relatives in the ‘getting to know you’ process, so staff could understand people’s specific needs and preferences.

Relatives gave positive examples of how people were supported during transition and explained how they had been made to feel very reassured throughout the process. One relative told us, “It was a difficult decision for us to make, but Dalesview were fantastic in helping us as parents with the transition. They did a thorough assessment to check [person] would fit in with others living there. They spoke to the school and us about activities, and we met with staff before [person] went to live there. We prepared [person’s] room to ensure they recognised it. [Partners] included in the transition were the social worker and housing association.” Another added, “The transition was really good; a robust transition.”

The provider worked with people and healthcare 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.

Staff demonstrated a strong awareness of safeguarding. They gave examples of the signs of abuse they would observe for and how they would escalate concerns.

There was a good level of training in Safeguarding, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and Mental Capacity Act (MCA); and policies supported staff member’s understanding of people’s human rights.

Relatives confirmed people were safe and well looked after. A relative told us, “We have never seen anything that has given us cause for concern.”

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. Staff had a good understanding of people’s health and care needs, due to enhanced training and shadowing more experienced staff. A staff member explained, “It’s very interesting training, enough to manage risk. Dalesview are very strict, once we do a course, we will be assessed a lot before being left to support people with complex needs.” Communication guides included information on how people communicated their different needs, emotions or distress and directed staff how best to respond. The lifestyle manager had recently undertaken additional training. This meant they could offer support to teams, enabling them to implement new strategies and support people to express their feelings and wishes in a more positive way. However, whilst people’s support plans and protocols were detailed and included information about risk; we found several inconsistencies within records which could cause confusion for unfamiliar staff and compromise people’s safety. The registered manager immediately amended this documentation during the inspection and reviews were ongoing.

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care.

People’s homes and equipment were risk assessed regularly checked and concerns were escalated in a timely manner. Staff spoke about fire safety precautions in place such as training, regular drills and safety checks.

Relatives confirmed people’s homes were well maintained, and a housing provider spoke positively about their relationship with Dalesview. They said, “The communication from [leaders] is by far the best I experience from any care provider. They always pick up the phone, reply to emails promptly and chase up any compliance certifications needed. Any repairs or maintenance issues, they are constantly chasing for updates. I haven’t seen a property from Dalesview where I would be concerned for the tenant’s welfare.”

People had access to transport for appointments, visits and activities in the community. Processes were in place to monitor the safety of both the drivers and the vehicles.

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

Relatives told us they felt there were enough staff to meet people’s needs, and observations confirmed this. Staffing levels afforded people a varied and active lifestyle, and good quality of life.



There was an adequate skills mix to ensure people received consistently safe and high-quality care. A dedicated team of support staff, seniors and care supervisors worked in each of the supported living homes, in collaboration with the lifestyle team. Deputy managers, the registered manager and senior managers provided regular support and oversight throughout the service. A private physiotherapist had been employed to prevent people having long waits for treatment or rehabilitation.

Relatives were involved in the induction of new staff, to offer their unique perspective and guidance on people’s individual needs. Staff confirmed they received a thorough package of training and ongoing support. A staff member said, “There is enough training. Since I’ve been here, I’ve done a lot. If there’s anything extra, I want to do, they put me forward for it. [Dalesview] are very supportive. [Deputy manager] completes supervisions 4 weekly but if there’s anything worrying me, they will pop in to see me.”

Staff at all levels had the opportunity to learn and develop their skills and understanding, which contributed to good staff retention. The provider actively promoted career progression and training opportunities in the staff newsletter.

Recruitment systems and processes were robust, and the appropriate checks were in place to ensure staff were suitable and of good character.

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.

Relatives commented positively on the cleanliness of people’s homes and confirmed people were supported with their personal care. A relative told us, “[Person] is incontinent but never smells. They are always tidy, their hair is always beautifully done, and their nails. They are pampered.”

The service had systems and processes to allocate and monitor housekeeping tasks in people’s homes, and personal protective equipment (PPE) was available to staff.

The provider made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Staff involved people in planning, including when changes happened.

Records reviewed during inspection showed people had their regular medicines administered safely, by staff who had received training and had their competency checked. There were systems in place to order, store, dispose of and audit medicines and shortfalls identified in audits were promptly addressed. A relative said, [Person] has rescue medication for epilepsy and takes numerous other medicines. I’m not aware of any medicines errors.”

People were supported to attend medicines and health reviews with their GP and other partners, and hospital passports helped ensure they received appropriate support if they were admitted to hospital. People’s medicines needs were considered and planned for if they were attending activities, going on holiday or staying with relatives.

However, at times people were supported to purchase non-prescribed medicines for minor ailments but these were not supported by written policy. Staff we spoke to knew people well, but some support plans did not include written information for medicines used infrequently or prescribed ‘when required’. The registered manager confirmed action would be taken to address these issues.