• Care Home
  • Care home

Dimensions Somerset Newholme

Overall: Requires improvement read more about inspection ratings

Newholme Bushy Cross Lane, Ruishton, Taunton, Somerset, TA3 5JT (01823) 442298

Provided and run by:
Dimensions Somerset Sev Limited

Important: The provider of this service changed. See old profile

Latest inspection summary

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Background to this inspection

Updated 16 December 2022

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

One inspector carried out this inspection.

Service and service type

Dimensions Somerset Newholme is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post. The registered manager had recently been away from the service for one month. Management oversight was provided by the organisation's performance coach and operational director who completed both announced and unannounced visits during this time.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

One inspector visited Dimensions Somerset Newholme on 5 and 10 October 2022. We spoke/ communicated with seven people who used the service. Most people we met were not able to verbally communicate with us. We observed how staff provided support for people to help us better understand their experiences of the care they received.

We spoke with nine members of staff including the registered manager and operational director.

We checked three people’s medicines records and looked at arrangements for administering, storing and managing medicines.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.

We contacted relatives and received feedback from two relatives about their experience of the care provided.

We received feedback from five professionals who work with the service.

Overall inspection

Requires improvement

Updated 16 December 2022

About the service

Dimensions Somerset Newholme is a residential care home registered to provide personal care to up to eight people. At the time of the inspection there were seven people living at the home. The home specialises in the care of people who have a learning disability and/or autism. People living at the home also have complex physical healthcare needs.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Right Support:

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. However, records relating to capacity assessments were not regularly reviewed.

Most staff told us there were enough staff to meet people's needs, although this included a high use of agency staff. Staffing levels were based on the needs of the people living at the service. We observed safe staffing levels throughout the inspection and staff appeared unhurried and responsive to people. Safe recruitment processes were in place.

The service gave people care and support in a safe, clean, well equipped, well-furnished and well-maintained environment that has recently been decorated to take into account people’s sensory needs. The premises were homely, and people's bedrooms were personalised.

People were supported to maintain their health and wellbeing. Staff enabled people to access specialist health and social care support in the community.

Right Care:

Care records were under review at the time of the inspection and we identified areas where improvements were required to ensure safe consistent care was provided.

Staff were not always trained appropriately to support people.

People received their medicines in line with their preferences by staff who knew people well. Staff mostly followed systems and processes to safely administer medicines, however improvements were needed to ensure medicines were stored safely.

People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people’s privacy and dignity. They understood and responded to their individual needs. People could communicate with staff because staff supported them consistently and understood their individual communication needs.

Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. The service worked well with other agencies to do so. Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply it.

Right Culture:

The ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the management and staff provided support in the way each person preferred and enabled them to make meaningful choices. People had care plans in place. However, these had not always been reviewed or updated. The registered manager was prioritising updating records.

Staff and the management team at the service spoke positively about people within the service and wanted people to live their best lives. Staff demonstrated their knowledge of people and how to support them to manage their individual risks. Staff placed people’s wishes, needs and rights at the heart of everything they did.

Staff evaluated the quality of support provided to people, involving the person, their families and other professionals as appropriate.

People’s quality of life was enhanced by the service’s culture of improvement and inclusivity.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 24 June 2021)

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to monitor the service and will take further action if needed.

We identified a breach in relation to the management of the service, and have made recommendations in relation to consent and the management of medication.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.