CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Desmond House Limited
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found safe medicines management, safeguarding systems, staffing levels and person-centred risk assessments. Infection control had improved, although some decorating and lounge furniture still needed attention.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not assessed during this focused inspection. Its rating was not given in this report.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not assessed during this focused inspection. Its rating was not given in this report.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not assessed during this focused inspection. Its rating was not given in this report.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found a calm and open culture, clear management roles and effective audits and action plans. People said they had confidence in the managers and that issues were dealt with promptly.
What inspectors found, April 2023
Desmond House Limited rated Good; inspectors found safe care and stronger management, with some refurbishment still needed.
This was an unannounced, focused inspection on 21 March 2023. One inspector and an Expert by Experience spoke with nine people, staff and a visiting professional. They also checked care records, medicine records, recruitment files and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found that medicines, safeguarding, infection control, staffing and risk management were handled safely. People said they felt safe, and staff were described as kind and respectful.
The provider had improved since the previous rating of Requires Improvement, published in February 2020. The inspection found better infection control and quality monitoring. Some parts of the building needed decorating and some lounge furniture needed replacing, with an action plan in place.
Safe care
People told inspectors they felt safe. Staff understood how to recognise and report abuse, and risk assessments were regularly reviewed.
“People we spoke with told us they felt safe.” from the report
Medicines
Medicines were given as prescribed. Staff had training and regular checks of their competence, including for medicines given only when needed.
“People's medicines were managed safely and administered as prescribed.” from the report
Quality checks
The home had introduced a stronger auditing system. Managers used audits and action plans to monitor safety and make improvements.
“An effective system was now in place which monitored the quality and safety of the service through a robust auditing system.” from the report
Positive culture
Inspectors observed a calm, relaxed and friendly atmosphere. People were involved in their care and staff said they felt supported.
“We observed a calm, relaxed and friendly atmosphere.” from the report
Refurbishment still needed
minorSome parts of the environment needed decorating and some lounge furniture needed replacing. The provider had an action plan and had ordered furniture, but was waiting for delivery.
“Some parts of the environment required decorating and some furniture in the lounge required replacing.” from the report
- 01When will the decorating and replacement lounge furniture be completed?
- 02What were the ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive in the previous comprehensive inspection?
- 03How will you make sure medicines given only when needed continue to be recorded and reviewed properly?
- 04How are each person's risks and emergency evacuation needs kept up to date?
- 05How can residents raise concerns, and how will the home show what action was taken?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other key question ratings used for the overall rating came from the last inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 April 2023 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, September 2020
Desmond House Limited was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control measures were being followed.
Inspectors visited on 4 August 2020. This was an announced, targeted inspection during the coronavirus pandemic. It looked only at infection prevention and control measures.
Inspectors were assured that the home was managing visitors, admissions, personal protective equipment, testing, hygiene, possible outbreaks and its infection control policy safely.
Visitors received information about safe visiting and had access to hand gel and face masks. Staff used personal protective equipment and explained isolation procedures. Relatives were supported to keep in touch through garden visits, video calls and phone calls.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give a quality rating for the home or a full set of ratings across the five areas.
Safe visiting arrangements
The home sent information to visitors before visits, explained expected conduct and provided hand gel and face masks.
“The service sent letters or emails to visitors prior to arranging a suitable time to visit.” from the report
Use of protective equipment
Staff wore personal protective equipment and helped people understand how to use it and why it mattered.
“Staff took time to speak with people, show them how to put on and take off their personal protective equipment (PPE) and explain the risks should they choose not to wear PPE.” from the report
Keeping relatives connected
Relatives were encouraged to use garden visits, video calls and phone calls to support people's well-being.
“Relatives were encouraged to attend garden visits and use video calls and phone calls to support people's well-being.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01Has the home had a later full inspection, and what ratings were given?
- 02How are visitors currently checked and supported to reduce the risk of infection?
- 03How does the home support relatives to keep in touch with residents now?
- 04How often are staff and residents tested when testing is needed?
- 05How would the home manage an infection outbreak or the need for someone to isolate?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control measures only; the service was inspected but not rated across the wider areas of care. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 September 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 Desmond House Limited
4 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2020Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- February 2020Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- July 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 7 December 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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13 live-in carers within about an hour of Kingston upon Hull, City of
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 £1,350 a week. 12 can care for a couple. 8 years' experience on average.
“What truly stands out is how mindful and attentive she is to all of my medical needs, always going above and beyond to ensure I’m comfortable and well cared for.”
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