Archived: Derwent Care Home

Updated 25 October 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This comprehensive inspection took place on 26 September 2017 and was unannounced.

It was carried out by an inspector and an expert-by-experience. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses a service for older people.

Before the inspection, we had received a completed Provider Information Return (PIR). The PIR asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed the PIR and other information we held about the service as part of our inspection. This included the notifications we had received from the provider. Notifications are changes, events or incidents the provider is legally obliged to send CQC within required timescales. We contacted commissioners from the local authorities who contracted people's care.

During this inspection we carried out observations using the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a specific way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not communicate with us.

During the inspection we spoke with 13 people who lived at Derwent Care Home, three relatives, the registered manager, four support workers including one senior support worker, one activities co-ordinator and one member of catering staff. We looked around the kitchen. We reviewed a range of records about people's care and how the home was managed. We looked at care records for five people, recruitment, training and induction records for four staff, four people's medicines records, staffing rosters, staff meeting minutes, meeting minutes for people who used the service and relatives, the maintenance book, maintenance contracts and quality assurance audits the registered manager had completed.

Updated 25 October 2017

Derwent Care Home is registered to provide accommodation for personal and nursing care to a maximum of 45 people. At the time of inspection 37 people were living at the home. Care is provided to older people, including some people who live with dementia. Nursing care is not provided.

At the last inspection in August 2015 we had rated the service as Good. At this inspection we found the service remained good and met each of the fundamental standards we inspected.

People told us they were well looked after and they appeared content and relaxed with the staff who supported them. Relatives told us they were very satisfied with the service provided by Derwent Care Home staff. Staff knew the people they were supporting well and there were enough staff on duty to provide individual care to people. Detailed records accurately reflected the care provided by staff.

People were protected as staff had received training about safeguarding and knew how to respond to any allegation of abuse. When new staff were appointed, thorough vetting checks were carried out to make sure they were suitable to work with people who needed care and support.

People had access to health care professionals to make sure they received appropriate care and treatment. Staff followed advice given by professionals to make sure people received the care they needed. Systems were in place for people to receive their medicines in a safe way.

Appropriate training was provided. However, we have made a recommendation that staff should receive practical training for practical elements of training courses such as moving and assisting and fire training. Staff were supervised and supported. People received a varied and balanced diet to meet their nutritional needs.

People were expected and encouraged to make choices about aspects of their daily lives. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible, the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The environment was well designed to help people who lived with dementia to be aware of their surroundings and to remain involved.

A complaints procedure was available. People told us they would feel confident to speak to staff about any concerns if they needed to. The provider undertook a range of audits to check on the quality of care provided.

People had the opportunity to give their views about the service. There was regular consultation with people and/ or family members and their views were used to improve the service. People had access to an advocate if required.

People, relatives and staff told us the management team were approachable. Communication was effective to ensure staff and relatives were kept up to date about any changes in people’s care and support needs and the running of the service.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.