CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Dapplemere Nursing Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Risk assessments, recruitment checks, infection control and accident reviews were in place, but inspectors found some medicine arrangements needed improvement.
- Effective?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's health needs, preferences and choices. Staff had induction, training and supervision, and people received suitable food and support from health professionals.
- Caring?
- Good
- People and relatives said staff were kind, respectful and dignified in their care. People were involved in care reviews and could give feedback.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care was planned around people's preferences, communication needs and interests. Visitors were welcomed, activities were provided and complaints were recorded and monitored.
- Well-led?
- Good
- People, relatives and staff spoke positively about the registered manager. Audits, feedback and an improvement plan were used to monitor the service and make changes.
What inspectors found, September 2022
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, personalised care, with some medicine arrangements and decoration needing attention.
The CQC carried out an unannounced inspection. Two inspectors, a medicine inspector and an Expert by Experience visited on 28 July 2022. Inspection activity continued until 09 August 2022.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors spoke with people, relatives and staff, observed care and medicine administration, and checked care records, staff files and management records.
People and relatives were generally happy with the care. Inspectors found personalised care plans, kind and respectful staff, good support with food and health care, and effective management. They did identify some medicine guidance issues and said relatives felt the home needed decoration.
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives consistently described staff as caring and respectful. Inspectors also observed staff supporting dignity, choice and independence.
“People spoke positively about the staff and felt treated with dignity and respect.” from the report
Personalised care planning
Care records included people's medical history, preferences, hobbies and communication needs. Staff used this information to provide individual care.
“Care plans and risk assessments were completed and were regularly reviewed and updated.” from the report
Good food and mealtime support
People and relatives praised the food. Staff supported people to eat safely and the chef received information about allergies and dietary needs.
“All people and their relatives spoke highly of the food and the chef.” from the report
Open management
Relatives and staff said the registered manager was approachable, supportive and willing to listen. The home used audits, complaints and feedback to plan improvements.
“A quality assurance system was in place to ensure the standard of care and support was effective and safe.” from the report
Medicine storage and guidance
needs fixingDuring a recent heatwave, staff had not acted when the medicine storage temperature went out of range. Guidance for some as-needed medicines did not say when to give different doses, and pharmaceutical advice was not available for one covert medicine at the time of inspection.
“However, we found there had been no action taken by staff during a recent heatwave where the temperature of the storage area was out of range.” from the report
Decoration and repairs
minorRelatives said parts of the home needed decoration. The provider and registered manager showed inspectors a refurbishment programme, and a new maintenance person was addressing outstanding repairs.
“Relatives told us the home required decoration.” from the report
- 01What changes have been made to medicine storage checks since the heatwave issue?
- 02How do you now decide whether to give one, two or three doses of an as-needed medicine?
- 03What pharmaceutical advice is available for medicines given covertly?
- 04Which parts of the refurbishment programme have been completed, and what work remains?
- 05How do you check that care plans continue to reflect a person's preferences and communication needs?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC key questions, including infection prevention and control under Safe; it was the first inspection since registration under the current provider, while the previous provider's 2018 rating was carried over as background. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 September 2022 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 Dapplemere Nursing Home
4 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- September 2022Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2016Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2015GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2022
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 19 April 2022.
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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Hertfordshire
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 £980 to £1,300 a week. 82 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“She handled the new situation in front of her with such professionalism and I felt I could trust her 100%.”
“She was v competent and confident and we felt our mum was safe in her care. She supported us through a difficult time.”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.