- Care home
Dauntsey House
Assessment report published 1 December 2025
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of Assessment: 4 November to 5 November 2025. The service is a care home providing support to older people, some of whom were living with dementia. This inspection was carried out in response to a rating of requires improvement at the last inspection.
The provider now had effective systems to ensure medicines were managed safely and people received the medicines were prescribed. We identified minor shortfalls in the information recorded about the support some people needed to take medicines prescribed to be taken ‘as required’. This was addressed by the registered manager during the inspection.
The provider now had effective systems to manage risks to people and others as a result of people experiencing distress.
There were enough staff available to meet people’s needs. Staff demonstrated a good understanding of people’s needs and how to meet them. However, action was needed to ensure gaps in staff training were resolved.
People and relatives were involved in assessments of their needs. Assessments considered people’s communication, personal and health care needs. Care was based on latest evidence and good practice. People had enough to eat and drink to stay healthy. Staff worked with all agencies involved in people’s care for the best outcomes and smooth transitions when moving services. Staff made sure people understood their care and treatment to enable them to give informed consent. Staff took decisions in people’s best interests where they did not have capacity to consent. The service was clean, and staff followed good infection prevention and control measures.
People were treated with kindness and compassion. Staff protected people’s privacy and dignity. They treated people as individuals and supported their preferences. People had choice in their care and were encouraged to maintain relationships with family and friends. Staff responded to people in a timely way.
People and their relatives were involved in decisions about their care. Staff provided information in ways people could understand. People knew how to give feedback and were confident the provider took it seriously and acted on it. People were supported to plan for their future, including identifying any needs in relation to end of life care. However, action was needed to transfer information about end of life care into a specific care plan to ensure it was easily accessible for staff.
The provider now had effective systems to assess how the service was operating and plan improvements where needed. Leaders and staff had a shared vision and culture based on listening, learning and trust. Leaders were visible, knowledgeable and supportive, helping staff develop in their roles. Staff felt supported to give feedback and were treated equally, free from bullying or harassment.
People's experience of this service
People and relatives were positive about the quality of their care and said they liked living at Dauntsey House. They felt safe and were involved in planning their care and understood their rights. People said they received good care from knowledgeable staff who treated them as individuals.
People described how staff treated them kindly and made sure any personal care was done sensitively, preserving their privacy and dignity. We observed staff working in ways that were caring and maintained people’s privacy and dignity. People and relatives said the service provided interesting activities they enjoyed. We observed people participating in a range of group and individual activities, with staff supporting people where needed.
People said they liked the food choices available. We observed staff supporting people to choose what meal they would like and offering alternatives where needed.
People felt able to complain and were confident action would be taken, and improvements would be made.
People and relatives felt the home was well run, by a competent and knowledgeable registered manager.