• Care Home
  • Care home

Signature House

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

2 Maumbury Gardens, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1GR (01305) 257248

Provided and run by:
Amica Care Trust

Latest inspection summary

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Background to this inspection

Updated 24 June 2023

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.

This was a targeted inspection to check on a concern we had about the care people received at night.

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

The inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors.

Service and service type

Signature House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Signature House is a care home with nursing care. 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 not a registered manager in post. The manager had started the registration process and had previously been the registered manager at this service.

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 service improvement team. 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

We visited the service at night and spoke with 5 members of night staff, the registered manager and a representative of the provider organisation. We spent time with 3 people who used the service who were awake and in communal areas. We made general observations of interactions between people and staff. We reviewed a range of records related to staff training, the support and oversight of night staff and records made about the care and support of 2 people. Following our visit, we received feedback from a relative of a person living in the home.

Overall inspection

Good

Updated 24 June 2023

About the service

Signature House is a care home providing accommodation and personal and nursing care. The home is registered to provide care to a maximum of 48 people. The home specialises in the care of older people with dementia and/ or nursing needs. At the time of the inspection there were 44 people living at the home.

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

People lived in a service run by a responsive provider. The provider had systems in place to monitor quality and plan on-going improvements. They responded robustly and transparently at the time when concerns about people's safety at night emerged.

We observed people were relaxed in the company of staff. People were cared for by staff who understood their safeguarding responsibilities and supported people safely.

People lived in a home where the registered manager was visible and monitored and improved the service.

Staff felt supported and part of a strong team that was committed to providing high quality care. They valued the support and recognition they received.

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 good (published 11 October 2022).

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns about how people were protected from harm at night were raised due to a safeguarding incident. The provider was responsive at the time and provided assurances about safety. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks. We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the safe and well led sections of this report.

Targeted inspections do not change the rating from the previous inspection. This is because they do not assess all areas of a key question.

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.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.