CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Dennyshill Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed, including the use of PPE, testing, social distancing, cleaning, visitors and outbreak planning. They noted that some policies were still being formalised in writing.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, December 2020
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 10 November 2020. It looked only at infection prevention and control as part of the CQC's coronavirus review.
Inspectors found that people were protected by systems to prevent and control infection. They were assured about visitors, social distancing, shielding, admissions, personal protective equipment, testing, cleaning and managing outbreaks.
The home had a small, experienced staff team who knew people well. Staff supported people to keep in touch with relatives and provided activities while following safety measures.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the inspection did not give a Good, Requires Improvement or Inadequate rating, and it did not assess all areas of care.
Infection control
Inspectors found that the home had arrangements to reduce the spread of infection and manage possible outbreaks.
“People were protected by systems in place to prevent and control infection.” from the report
Staff knew people well
The small, established staff team communicated regularly and understood the people they supported.
“This is a small home with a long standing, small and loyal staff team who know the people they support very well.” from the report
Support for wellbeing
Staff provided activities, one-to-one time and help with phone and video calls so people could stay connected with family and friends.
“Staff helped people to stay in touch with family and friends through phone and video calls.” from the report
Safe visiting
Relatives could arrange visits safely, and the provider kept family and friends updated.
“Visitors could also book appointments to visit people in a safe way.” from the report
Some policies still being formalised
minorAt the inspection, some arrangements were being put into formal written policies, including outbreak procedures, equipment cleaning and admissions.
“There were clear risk assessments and staff were following the correct procedures. The provider was ensuring some policies were formalised in writing.” from the report
- 01Have the infection prevention and control policies that were being formalised in 2020 now been completed and reviewed?
- 02How often do staff receive refresher training on infection prevention, PPE and outbreak management?
- 03How are visitors currently supported to visit safely, and how are families kept updated during any outbreak?
- 04What arrangements are in place if someone needs to isolate, including access to a suitable room and activities?
- 05How are people supported to maintain contact with relatives if face-to-face visits are restricted?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control measures only; the service was inspected but not rated and the other care quality areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 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.
What inspectors found, January 2020
Dennyshill Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care with effective management.
This was a planned, unannounced inspection on 29 October 2019. One inspector spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and visiting health professionals. They also reviewed care plans, medicines records, staff files and management records.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, suitable risk assessments, clean surroundings and effective medicines systems.
People were treated with dignity and kindness. Their care plans were individual and regularly reviewed. Staff supported people with food, healthcare, activities, relationships and choices. The home had systems to listen to feedback and improve.
Kind relationships
Staff knew people well and built compassionate relationships. Inspectors found that people's dignity and privacy were respected.
“People were treated with respect and their privacy and dignity was maintained.” from the report
Stable staffing
The home had enough staff to meet people's needs and used a consistent staff team. Inspectors also found safe recruitment checks.
“There were enough staff on duty to meet people's needs. People were supported by a consistent and stable staff team.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans described people's needs, routines and preferences. They were reviewed monthly or when people's needs changed.
“Care plans were reviewed monthly or if people's needs changed, which meant they were accurate.” from the report
Strong oversight
The home used audits, feedback and staff involvement to monitor quality and make improvements.
“There were effective systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you make sure there are enough familiar staff to meet my relative's needs?
- 02How often will my relative's risk assessments and care plans be reviewed if their needs change?
- 03How will you support my relative's food, drink and swallowing needs, and when would you involve health professionals?
- 04What activities and outings could my relative take part in, based on their interests and communication needs?
- 05How can I raise a concern or complaint, and how will you keep me informed about the response?
This was a planned, unannounced inspection that looked at the premises and care and rated all five key questions; the previous overall rating was also Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 January 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 Dennyshill Care Home
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- January 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 11 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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17 live-in carers within about an hour of Devon
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 £1,020 to £1,270 a week. 15 can care for a couple. 13 years' experience on average.
“She is such a warm and gentle person while being professional and competent at the same time.”
“She looked after my mum, who can be incredibly challenging, so well and so gently, and we always felt confident that my mum was getting the best care available.”
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.