CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Derwent Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that people's risks were well managed and that there were enough staff. Medicines records were accurate and arrangements for ordering, giving and disposing of medicines were appropriate.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs and choices were assessed before admission. Staff had induction, training and supervision, and worked with healthcare professionals to support people's health and dietary needs.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were kind and treated people with dignity and respect. People were supported to make choices, remain independent and take part in important family occasions.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care records described people's needs and preferences, and staff communicated in ways people could understand. Activities, family involvement and end of life wishes were considered.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found approachable leadership, staff involvement and systems for monitoring quality. Audits led to actions to improve care, and the report says those actions were followed up.
What inspectors found, October 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care with effective oversight.
The inspection was unannounced and took place over 11 and 13 September 2019. One inspector spoke with people living in the home, relatives and staff. They also reviewed care, medicines, staff and management records.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, well-managed risks, safe medicines arrangements and care that respected people's choices, dignity and independence.
The home had a previous Good rating, published in October 2017. The provider had changed since then, but the rating remained Good. This means inspectors found consistently good care and management at the time of this inspection.
Personal safety
People's individual risks were assessed and staff were given guidance on how to reduce them. The home also reviewed accidents and near misses to help prevent them happening again.
“People's personal risks were well managed.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors found that staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff also supported people's independence and helped one person attend an important family celebration.
“Staff approached people with kindness. They treated people with dignity and respect.” from the report
Personalised care
Care records described people's needs and preferences, and staff reviewed them regularly. Staff used meaningful communication, including pictures where this helped a person understand.
“Care records accurately described people's needs and preferences and the steps staff were to take to meet them.” from the report
Family involvement
Relatives were welcomed and encouraged to take part in the life of the home. The home also planned a support group for relatives of people living with dementia.
“Relatives were welcomed and encouraged to participate in the life of the home.” from the report
Quality checks
The manager and regional manager carried out quality audits. These checks identified improvements, and the home took steps to address them.
“The audits of both the regional and the registered manager led to actions being identified to improve the care provided.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you use the dependency tool to make sure there are enough staff for my relative's needs at all times?
- 02How will you check that my relative's medicines remain accurate and up to date?
- 03How will you record and review my relative's communication needs, choices and personal preferences?
- 04How would you support my relative if they needed nursing care or end of life care?
- 05What activities and family involvement would be available for my relative, including if they do not enjoy group activities?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the accommodation and care provided; the previous rating was Good and had been published on 24 October 2017. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 October 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.
Every inspection of Derwent Care Home
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- October 2019Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2018
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 28 September 2018.
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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47 live-in carers within about an hour of County Durham
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 £960 to £1,210 a week. 42 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Petty introduced herself to Mum every time she was caring for her and responded very quickly to Mum if she was distressed in the night.”
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.