CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Dalmeny House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control, including PPE, testing, visitors, admissions, hygiene and the home's infection-control policy.
- Effective?
- Good
- This was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, May 2021
Dalmeny House was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control arrangements.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 25 March 2021. It checked how the home was prepared to prevent and control COVID-19 infections.
Inspectors were assured that visitors were protected, shielding and social distancing rules were followed, and people were admitted safely. They were also assured that PPE, testing, hygiene and infection-control policies were being used appropriately.
People could keep in touch with family and friends through telephone or video calls, and could have one designated visitor by arrangement. Activities and hobbies, including gardening, arts and crafts and movie nights, continued.
The home was inspected but not rated overall. Safe was also recorded as inspected but not rated. The other four areas were not assessed in this targeted inspection.
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had suitable arrangements to prevent and manage infection, including updated policies and regular testing.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Personal protective equipment
Staff were seen wearing the correct PPE, including extra PPE when entering people's rooms. There was a specific area for putting PPE on and taking it off.
“Staff were observed to be wearing the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), this included wearing additional PPE when entering people's rooms.” from the report
Family contact
People could stay in contact with family and friends by telephone or video call. One visitor could also visit by prior arrangement.
“People were supported to maintain contact with their family and friends by telephone or video calling.” from the report
Activities and interests
People continued to enjoy activities such as gardening, arts and crafts, mindfulness and movie nights.
“People were able to still enjoy their hobbies and interests.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you currently keeping infection prevention and control policies up to date?
- 02What PPE do staff use when entering a resident's room, and where is it put on and removed?
- 03How often are residents and staff tested for COVID-19 now?
- 04How are visits currently arranged, and what options are available for video or telephone contact?
- 05Which activities and hobbies are currently available to residents?
This was an announced, targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic; it did not assess the other four quality areas and did not give an overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 May 2021 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, November 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with a few minor improvements still needed.
This was an unannounced, comprehensive inspection on 1 October 2019. One inspector spoke with four people, the manager and three care staff. They observed care, medicines and a staff handover, and checked care records, medicine records, staff files and quality checks.
The home supported 11 adults with mental health problems. Inspectors found that people were safe, treated kindly and supported to make choices. Care plans were detailed and personalised. People were supported to take part in activities, voluntary work and the local community.
Inspectors found enough suitably trained staff, good links with health professionals and a clean, comfortable environment. They identified some improvements needed around night-time fire evacuation planning, privacy near the medicine room and one shower room.
The home was rated Good in all five areas and Good overall. It had also been rated Good overall at the previous inspection in December 2016.
Personalised support
Care plans included people's preferences, interests and goals. Staff used this information to support independence and tailor care.
“Care records were written in a person-centred way, detailing people's preferences, likes and dislikes.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw staff treating people with kindness and respect. Staff promoted privacy, dignity and independence.
“We observed kind, caring and polite interactions between the person and staff.” from the report
Activities and community life
People could take part in one-to-one and group activities, voluntary work and community activities, including growing produce at a local allotment.
“Dalmeny House offered one to one and group activities including growing produce on a local allotment, attending voluntary work and accessing the local community.” from the report
Supportive management
The manager and provider used audits, meetings and feedback to monitor quality and plan improvements. Staff said they felt supported and listened to.
“The service had governance arrangements in place and completed regular internal quality checks and audits.” from the report
Night-time fire planning
needs fixingFire evacuation drills and the fire risk assessment did not cover times when staff worked alone. The manager gave timescales for night-time evacuations after the inspection.
“We identified that completion of fire evacuation drills and the corresponding fire risk assessment did not reflect times when staff worked alone at the service.” from the report
Privacy near the medicine room
needs fixingPeople could see into the medicine room through an uncovered glass panel while tasks were being completed. The manager said action would be taken.
“The medicine room had a glass panel on the door, which was not covered or obscured to prevent people seeing into the room while people completed tasks.” from the report
One shower room
minorThere was a bad smell in one shower room. The home had identified this and planned to replace the flooring.
“The standards of cleanliness were good throughout the service, with no malodours identified with the exception of one shower room.” from the report
- 01Have the night-time fire evacuation drills been completed, and what did they show about staffing and evacuation risks?
- 02Has the glass panel in the medicine room been covered or obscured to protect people's privacy?
- 03Has the flooring in the shower room been replaced, and has the odour problem been resolved?
- 04How are people's mental health needs, preferences and goals reflected in their current care plans?
- 05What activities, voluntary work and community opportunities are currently available to residents?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions, the care environment and the care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 November 2019 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Dalmeny House
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- May 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- November 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2017GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 4 January 2011.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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13 live-in carers within about an hour of Norfolk
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £990 to £1,120 a week. 9 can care for a couple. 14 years' experience on average.
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