CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Dene Brook
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, cleaning, visiting arrangements and vaccination checks. They also noted that admissions were paused until additional staff had been recruited.
- 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, February 2022
Dene Brook was inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control, but admissions were paused while more staff were recruited.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 27 January 2022. Inspectors focused on infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 response, and asked about staffing pressures.
Inspectors found that staff used personal protective equipment correctly, completed infection control training and followed visiting, testing and vaccination requirements. The home was clean, hygienic and regularly checked.
The provider had measures to manage COVID-19-related staffing pressures. New admissions were paused until more staff had been recruited.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not provide an overall rating or a rated score for the five key questions.
Infection control
Inspectors found that staff had current training, used PPE properly and followed infection control guidance.
“Staff completed IPC training and were observed to be wearing the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) and following best practice.” from the report
Safe visiting
Visitors had to take a lateral flow test and were given PPE. Inspectors said visits were being supported in line with current guidance.
“There were robust visiting protocols in place to ensure the provider was preventing visitors from catching and spreading infections.” from the report
Clean environment
The home was clean and hygienic, with cleaning products, cleaning schedules and infection control audits in place.
“The home was clean and hygienic throughout. Staff had access to cleaning products and cleaning schedules were in place.” from the report
Staffing pressures
needs fixingThe provider reported COVID-19-related staffing pressures. New admissions had been stopped until more staff were recruited.
“Further admissions to the home were on hold until additional staff had been recruited.” from the report
- 01Have additional staff been recruited, and are new admissions now being accepted?
- 02How many staff are currently available on each shift compared with the needs of the people living in the home?
- 03Are staff still receiving regular COVID-19 testing and infection control training?
- 04What testing and PPE arrangements are currently required for visitors and health and social care professionals?
- 05How often are cleaning and infection control audits completed, and can families see the results?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control and staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated and the other key questions were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 February 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.
What inspectors found, December 2020
Rated Good; inspectors found people were safe and well supported, although some improvement work was still underway.
This was a focused inspection on 10 December 2020. Inspectors looked at safe, effective and well-led care after concerns had been received about management and support. They spoke with people, relatives and staff, walked around the home and checked care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Good in all three areas inspected. Inspectors found enough suitably recruited staff, safe medicines systems, appropriate risk assessments and good infection control, including measures to reduce COVID-19 risks.
Care plans reflected people's needs and preferences. Staff were trained and supported, and people were helped to make choices, stay healthy and reach personal goals. The home used audits and feedback to identify and act on improvements.
This was not a full inspection of all five areas. Caring and Responsive were not inspected during this visit, and their previous ratings were used when calculating the overall rating. The overall rating stayed Good, as it was at the previous inspection.
People were kept safe
Inspectors found appropriate safeguarding systems, risk assessments, staffing and medicines arrangements. Infection control measures were also in place.
“People were safe and protected from avoidable harm.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's needs, preferences and what mattered to them. Staff knew people well and supported independence and personal goals.
“For example, care plans were individualised and included information about what really mattered to the person.” from the report
Supportive management
The report describes managers as open and available. Regular audits, meetings and feedback were used to monitor the quality of care.
“The registered manager had an 'open door' management approach which meant they were easily available to people, relatives and staff.” from the report
Staff training and support
Staff received induction, training, supervision and competency checks to help them carry out their roles.
“Staff received training and support to carry out their roles effectively.” from the report
Improvement work was ongoing
minorThe home was clean and tidy, but some areas still needed upgrading or refurbishment at the time of the inspection.
“Maintenance staff were on site during the inspection making further improvements to areas identified as needing upgrading and refurbishment work.” from the report
- 01What upgrading or refurbishment work identified at the inspection is still outstanding?
- 02What changes were made in response to the concerns about management and support that led to this focused inspection?
- 03How are care plans reviewed to make sure they continue to reflect what matters to each person?
- 04How are people and relatives involved in regular feedback, meetings and quality surveys?
- 05How does the home check that COVID-19 infection control measures remain effective?
This was a focused inspection of Safe, Effective and Well-led only; Caring and Responsive were not inspected and their previous ratings were used in calculating the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 25 December 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.
Every inspection of Dene Brook
4 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- July 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2013
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 22 July 2013.
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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