• Care Home
  • Care home

Dimensions 1 Middlefield Close

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

1 Middlefield Close, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 8RS (01252) 718479

Provided and run by:
Dimensions (UK) Limited

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

Latest inspection summary

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Background to this inspection

Updated 2 April 2021

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are looking at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 2 March 2021 and was announced.

Overall inspection

Good

Updated 2 April 2021

About the service: Dimensions 1 Middlefield Close is a residential bungalow providing personal care for up to five people with learning disabilities. Five people were living there at the time of the inspection.

Dimensions 1 Middlefield Close is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

People’s experience of using this service:

The care service had been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

People appeared relaxed and happy in the company of the staff. People who verbally communicated told us they enjoyed living at the home. A relative said, “The staff are brilliant, nothing they need to do better and X is very relaxed, he has his freedom and is well cared for”. People were involved in their own home as much as possible. People were vacuuming and sweeping and making drinks. The home had a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere and people were care for by a dedicated team of staff.

People received safe care because any risks had been assessed and staff knew what action to take to minimise these risks. For examples, they knew to monitor closely people who had epilepsy and they responded with appropriate care or by calling the emergency services.

Staff knew how to prevent the spread of infections and how to respond to any emergencies. People received their medicines in a safe way and medicines were stored safely and accurate records were kept.

Accidents and incidents were recorded and investigated appropriately.

Staff had been recruited safely and there were enough staff to support people with their care and their activities. The staff were trained to deliver effective care that met each person’s needs and they received supervision to make sure their training was put into practice.

People had access to health care and regular health checks. People were supported to have a healthy diet which took account of their needs. People ate different meals at different times to suit their own preferences. Staff made sure they served people food in a way that was safe, such as cut up into small pieces if people were at risk of choking.

Staff understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act and gave people choices and sought their consent. Where people lacked consent for some decisions the correct legal processes had been followed.

The home was suitable for people and there was specialist equipment as needed. All the accommodation is on the ground floor which allowed people, including those who use a wheelchair, to have full access. A new bed had just arrived to make someone more comfortable and one person had a tailor made chair to help their posture and comfort. The home showed wear and tear and although the housing association had been slow in responding to requests for repairs the registered manager had a redecoration plan in place.

The staff cared about every person and showed this by appropriate affection and humour. Close relationships had been built up over a long time and staff knew each person’s needs very well.

People were encouraged and supported to maintain important relationships and families were always welcomed and included.

People were supported to take part in a wide range of activities and hobbies that suited their personalities and preferences. These included, visiting historic places, art and music groups as well as one to one time having meals out in town or shopping. The routines were set by people and not by staff. There were detailed plans in place for each person which staff followed, and these were regularly updated as changes occurred. Complaints had been recorded and investigated.

The registered manager also managed one of the provider's other services and divided their time between the two homes. There was a clear management structure in place which meant that there was enough support in place for staff at all times.

There was an open culture and staff understood the providers aim of providing people with a fulfilling life with as few barriers as possible. Regular quality checks were made by the registered manager and the provider and action was taken to improve when needed.

The registered manager had informed CQC of any serious incidents as they are required to do. When incidents had taken place, they had been reviewed to learn any lessons to try to prevent them happening again.

Rating at last inspection

The last inspection was carried out on the 8 September 2016 and the rating was Good.

Why we inspected

This inspection was carried out as part of our routine schedule of inspection based on the previous rating.

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