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CQC report explained · a residential care home

What the CQC found at Darley Hall Care Home

Goodpublished 3 July 2026, 3 months ago

Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.

The latest report, explained

What inspectors found, February 2020

Darley Hall Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with leadership improved since the last inspection.

This was an unannounced planned inspection on 30 December 2019. One inspector spoke with people living in the home, relatives and staff. They also observed care and mealtimes and checked care records, staff files, medicines, complaints and quality checks.

The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough suitably checked and trained staff, safe medicines practice, clean surroundings and care plans that reflected people's needs and preferences.

People were supported to make choices, stay independent, keep their routines and take part in activities. Staff helped people access healthcare and meet their dietary needs. The home had improved from Requires Improvement to Good for Well-led since the previous inspection, although there was no registered manager in post during the visit.

What inspectors praised
  • Staffing and safety

    Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs and saw that people did not have to wait for help. Staff recruitment, training and medicines procedures were also checked.

    “There were sufficient staff on duty to meet people's needs and to enable people to enjoy social activities.” from the report
  • Personalised care

    Care plans included people's histories, preferences and support needs. Staff used this information to provide individual care.

    “People's care plans were individual to them and contained detailed histories and information on how they wished to be supported.” from the report
  • Choice and independence

    People could keep their own routines, choose activities and receive support that helped them do as much as possible for themselves.

    “The staff supported people to remain as independent as possible.” from the report
  • Kind and respectful care

    People and relatives described staff as friendly, respectful and caring. Inspectors observed dignified interactions.

    “We observed staff treating people respectfully and providing them with dignified care and support.” from the report
  • Improved leadership

    The management team had made improvements to communication and day-to-day organisation. The Well-led rating rose from Requires Improvement to Good.

    “At this inspection this key question has now improved to Good.” from the report
What inspectors were concerned about

Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.

Questions to ask them, based on this report
  1. 01Has the acting manager's application to become the registered manager been approved, and who is responsible for the home in the meantime?
  2. 02How will staff assess and update my relative's care plan as their needs or preferences change?
  3. 03What activities are available for my relative, including one-to-one activities and interests outside the home?
  4. 04How will you support my relative's diet, drinks and any special dietary needs?
  5. 05What changes have been made to the shared bathrooms, and when will the planned wet-room improvements be completed?

This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the premises and the care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 February 2020 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.

An earlier report, explained

What inspectors found, April 2017

Darley Hall Care Home was rated Good overall; care was safe, effective, kind and responsive, but leadership Requires Improvement.

Inspectors visited unannounced on 8 February 2017. They spoke with people, relatives, staff and health professionals, observed care, and checked care plans, medicines, staff records, rotas and management records.

The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring and Responsive. People were described as safe and well supported. Staff were kind, respected privacy, responded promptly and supported people's choices, health needs, meals and activities.

Well-led was rated Requires Improvement because there was no registered manager. An acting manager had been in post since August 2016 and was planning to apply to become the registered manager. The overall rating remained Good, as four of the five areas were rated Good.

What inspectors praised
  • People felt safe

    People said they felt safe, and inspectors found enough staff to respond promptly. Risks such as falls and moving and handling had been assessed.

    “We found enough staff were available to meet people's needs; people did not have to wait long for assistance.” from the report
  • Kind and respectful care

    Staff knew people's likes, dislikes and personal preferences. Inspectors saw respectful care and a calm, relaxed atmosphere.

    “The atmosphere at the service was calm and relaxed with people, their relatives and the staff, chatting and laughing together.” from the report
  • Individual care

    Care plans reflected people's needs and were reviewed regularly. People and relatives were involved in discussing care and preferences.

    “We reviewed care plans relating to three people and saw they were reviewed and updated by a senior carer or the acting manager on a regular basis.” from the report
  • Choice at mealtimes

    People could choose where to eat and request alternatives. Special diets were provided and drinks were available during the day.

    “Special diets, such as fortified or diabetic meals, were catered for; drinks were freely available as well as being offered periodically throughout the day.” from the report
What inspectors were concerned about
  • No registered manager

    needs fixing

    The home did not have a registered manager. The acting manager had been in post since August 2016 and planned to apply for registration.

    “There was no registered manager in post. The acting manager had been in post since August 2016 and told us they would be applying to become the registered manager.” from the report
Questions to ask them, based on this report
  1. 01Has the acting manager since become the registered manager?
  2. 02What support and oversight are now in place for the manager and staff team?
  3. 03What improvements have been made to the building's decoration and refurbishment plans?
  4. 04How are care plans reviewed when a person's health needs or preferences change?
  5. 05How are concerns and complaints recorded and followed up?

This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions; the previous inspection in September 2015 had rated the service Good overall. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 April 2017 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.

The story over the years

Every inspection of Darley Hall Care Home

3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.

  1. February 2020Goodcurrent ratingstayed Good
    Safe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good

    Read what inspectors found at Darley Hall Care Home →

  2. April 2017Goodstayed Good
    Safe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement

    Read what inspectors found at Darley Hall Care Home →

  3. November 2015Good
    Safe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  4. February 2014

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  5. March 2013

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  6. January 2011

    Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 31 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.

Next steps

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Care at home

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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 £1,010 to £1,260 a week. 51 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.

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See live-in carers near DerbyshireProfiles, rates and reviews are free to look at.

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