CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Deepdene House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, December 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care with strong activities and management.
This was an unannounced planned inspection. One inspector and an Expert by Experience visited on 13 November 2019. They spoke with nine people, five staff and four health professionals. They also checked care, medicines, staffing, complaints and management records.
The home provided residential care without nursing for up to 20 people with mental health needs. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, suitable care plans and good support with health, food and daily choices. People said they felt safe, respected and listened to.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The overall rating stayed Good, the same as at the previous inspection published in May 2017. Inspectors noted some minor health and safety actions, with an action plan in place.
People felt safe
People told inspectors they felt safe and comfortable. Staff understood safeguarding and how to manage risks, including situations where behaviour might escalate.
“Deepdene house was a safe environment where people felt comfortable and at home.” from the report
Trained staff
Staff had training in areas including medicines, mental health and managing behaviour. New staff were supported through induction and shadowing.
“Staff received training which meant they were equipped to carry out their roles effectively.” from the report
Respect and equality
People were treated fairly and involved in decisions about their routines, care and activities. Care plans recorded personal preferences and independence.
“People were treated as equals with no discrimination.” from the report
Activities and community life
People could join daily activities, trips and community events. They were also supported to develop skills and travel independently where possible.
“There was a thriving activities programme available to people with a number of activities taking place within the home.” from the report
Strong oversight
Managers carried out regular checks and audits. The home also worked with mental health, social care and community services.
“Robust quality assurance checks such as audits were in place.” from the report
Minor safety actions
minorAn independent health and safety audit found some minor actions that still needed attention. Inspectors saw an action plan to address them, but the report does not list the individual actions.
“There were some minor actions for the service to act upon and we saw the registered manager had an action plan in place to rectify these.” from the report
- 01What were the minor actions from the September 2019 health and safety audit, and have they all been completed?
- 02How will you check and record my relative's medicines, including their consent and any support they need to take them safely?
- 03How often will my relative's care plan and risk assessments be reviewed, and how will changes in their mental or physical health be shared with professionals?
- 04Which activities, day services and community trips would be suitable for my relative, and how would staff support them to attend?
- 05What staffing will be available when residents need support to attend appointments or go out into the community?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, and the previous Good ratings in all five areas remained unchanged. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 December 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.
What inspectors found, May 2017
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and responsive care, with improvements made to medicines and cleanliness.
This was an unannounced inspection on 21 April 2017. Inspectors spoke with people living in the home, a relative, staff, the chef and the registered manager. They reviewed care plans, medicines records, staff files, maintenance records and other records. They also contacted three health care professionals after the visit.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found that people were protected from abuse, medicines were managed safely, staffing levels met people's needs and risk assessments gave staff clear guidance.
People were supported to make choices, maintain their independence, attend health appointments and take part in activities. Care plans were person centred and reviewed regularly. Inspectors also found that the home had improved its cleanliness and medicines management since the previous inspection in November 2014.
The overall Good rating means the home met the CQC standards inspected, although inspectors found that staff supervisions and appraisals had not always been completed on time. The registered manager was taking action to address this.
Medicines were managed safely
The home had improved its medicines records since the previous inspection. As-needed medicines were signed for and the reason for giving them was recorded.
“PRN (as and when required) medicines were signed for and the reason for administration was noted on the MARs.” from the report
Clean environment
The home had acted on previous cleanliness concerns. Communal areas, stairs and landings were clean, and damaged areas had been refurbished.
“We carried out a check of all floors and found all communal areas were free from odour and were clean, with no visible dirt.” from the report
Kind and respectful support
Inspectors observed staff listening to people, showing compassion and respecting privacy and dignity. People were encouraged to make choices and do things for themselves.
“Throughout the inspection, people were supported by staff that spent time listening to them and showing compassion.” from the report
Person-centred care and activities
Care plans included people's backgrounds, health needs, routines and preferences. People were offered activities both in the home and in the community.
“Care plans were reviewed regularly to reflect people's changing needs.” from the report
Quality checks and improvements
The home carried out regular audits covering areas such as medicines, fire safety, maintenance and finances. Feedback from people and relatives was also collected.
“Records showed people were protected against an unsafe environment by the service carrying out audits on a daily, weekly, monthly and annual basis.” from the report
Staff supervision was not always on time
needs fixingRecords showed that staff supervisions and appraisals had not always been completed within the expected timescale. The registered manager said action was being taken after returning from a period of absence.
“We looked at records relating to supervisions and appraisals and found that these were not always completed in a timely manner.” from the report
Mixed feedback about staffing levels
needs fixingThe inspection found that rotas had covered staff absences, but one staff member said it could be difficult to find cover at short notice. Ask how this is managed now.
“Sickness absences gets covered by agency staff, but sometimes it's difficult to find cover especially at short notice.” from the report
- 01How are staff absences covered now, especially when cover is needed at short notice?
- 02How often does each staff member receive supervision and appraisal, and how are missed sessions followed up?
- 03How are medicines given when needed, and how is the reason recorded?
- 04How are people's care plans reviewed with them when their needs or preferences change?
- 05What activities are currently available in the home and in the community?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions; the report also records improvements since a focused inspection on 4 November 2014. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 May 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.
Every inspection of Deepdene House
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2015GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 5 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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Lambeth
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 £1,250 a week. 76 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“She cared for my mum with Alzheimer's with endless patience and kindness, always arriving with a smile and a positive attitude”
“She is just one of those people that looks around, sees what needs to be done and does it.”
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.