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CQC report explained · a residential care home

What the CQC found at Dean House

Goodpublished 22 April 2026, 5 months ago

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

The latest report, explained

What inspectors found, March 2022

Inspected but not rated; the targeted visit found good infection control and visiting arrangements.

This was an announced, targeted inspection on 24 February 2022. It looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements, and whether COVID-19 staffing pressures affected care.

Inspectors found good supplies of protective equipment, appropriate use by staff, regular cleaning and hygiene checks, and regular testing for people and staff. They were assured that the home was following guidance on infection control, safe admissions, visitors, shielding and social distancing.

The home had created a visiting pod so people could see visitors safely while isolating or keeping their distance. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give a Good, Requires improvement or other quality rating.

What inspectors praised
  • Safe visiting

    A visiting pod allowed people to see visitors behind glass with an intercom while they needed to self-isolate or keep their distance.

    “The provider had created a visiting 'pod' attached to the conservatory where people could meet and see each other behind glass doors with an intercom.” from the report
  • Protective equipment

    Inspectors saw staff using protective equipment properly. Supplies and disposal points were available around the home.

    “The registered manager reported having good supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) and we saw staff wearing PPE appropriately.” from the report
  • Cleaning and hygiene

    Cleaning was scheduled and monitored, with regular audits and hygiene checks.

    “There was a schedule of cleaning around the home which was monitored, the registered manager ensured audits and hygiene checks were carried out regularly.” from the report
  • Testing

    Regular COVID-19 testing was in place for people and staff, and results were monitored.

    “There was regular testing in place for people and staff, government guidelines were being followed for this and test results were being monitored.” 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. 01How have your infection prevention and control arrangements changed since the inspection on 24 February 2022?
  2. 02How do you currently arrange private and communal visits?
  3. 03How do you manage staffing pressures when staff are absent because of COVID-19?
  4. 04How often are cleaning, hygiene and infection control checks carried out now?
  5. 05What is the home's latest full inspection rating for areas not covered by this targeted visit?

This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it did not provide ratings for the other areas of care. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 March 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.

An earlier report, explained

What inspectors found, January 2018

Dean House was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, but community outings were not routine.

The inspection was unannounced and took place on 18 October 2017. One inspector and an expert by experience observed care, spoke with people, relatives and staff, and checked care records, medicines records, staff files, rotas, training records, complaints and other management records.

Inspectors found that people were safe and supported by kind staff. Risks, medicines, recruitment, consent, food and drink, healthcare, training and care planning were managed well. People were treated with dignity and were involved in choices about their care.

There were some areas to improve. People said they wanted more outings into the community. Inspectors also saw one unsafe moving and handling incident and found that repositioning had not always been recorded as required, although they were reassured that the care had taken place.

The overall rating and all five question ratings were Good. This is an improvement from Requires Improvement at the previous inspection in September 2016, after the provider took action to meet four regulations that had previously been breached.

What inspectors praised
  • People felt safe

    People told inspectors they felt safe. Staff understood how to recognise and report possible abuse, and risk assessments gave clear guidance.

    “People were safe living at the home. Staff had been trained to recognise the signs of potential abuse and knew what action to take.” from the report
  • Kind and respectful care

    Inspectors saw staff engaging warmly with people. People were supported to make choices and their privacy and dignity were respected.

    “People were looked after by kind and caring staff who knew them well.” from the report
  • Personalised care plans

    Care plans included people's needs, preferences and life histories. They were reviewed monthly, with people and relatives involved.

    “Care plans provided detailed information about people in a person-centred way.” from the report
  • Improvements since the last inspection

    The provider acted on the previous inspection findings. Inspectors found that the four previously breached regulations had been met.

    “At this inspection on 18 October 2017, we found the provider and registered manager had taken appropriate action and these regulations had been met.” from the report
  • Management and monitoring

    The home used audits, staff observations, meetings and questionnaires to monitor care and gather views.

    “There were monthly audits that monitored medicines management, health and safety, infection control, food hygiene, mattresses and call bell audits.” from the report
What inspectors were concerned about
  • Few community outings

    needs fixing

    Activities were available inside the home, but outings into the community did not happen routinely. Several people said they wanted to go out more.

    “Outings into the community did not take place routinely and many people we spoke with felt they would like to go out more.” from the report
  • Moving and handling incident

    needs fixing

    Inspectors saw staff transfer a person from a wheelchair without applying the brakes. The person appeared uncomfortable, although another staff member corrected the procedure and the manager said it was an isolated incident.

    “The brakes were not applied whilst the manoeuvre took place.” from the report
  • Incomplete repositioning records

    minor

    Repositioning had not always been recorded in line with the care plan. The manager investigated and inspectors were reassured that repositioning had taken place.

    “Staff had recorded when the person's pads were changed, they had not always remembered to record the person had also been repositioned.” from the report
Questions to ask them, based on this report
  1. 01How often do residents now go on outings into the community, and who can take my relative out?
  2. 02What checks are now made to ensure all staff use safe moving and handling techniques?
  3. 03How do you make sure repositioning and other care tasks are recorded every time?
  4. 04How will my relative and our family be involved in reviewing and changing the care plan?
  5. 05What staffing levels are in place during busy morning periods, and how often are agency staff used?

This was an unannounced inspection of all five areas and the overall quality of the home, following the previous inspection in September 2016. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 January 2018 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 Dean House

2 rated inspections over a year: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.

  1. March 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent rating
    Safe: Inspected but not rated

    Read what inspectors found at Dean House →

  2. January 2018Goodup from Requires improvement
    Safe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good

    Read what inspectors found at Dean House →

  3. October 2016Requires improvement
    Safe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  4. January 2014

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  5. September 2012

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  6. June 2012

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  7. April 2011

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  8. November 2010

    Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 29 November 2010.

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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