CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Didsbury Court
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Risks, medicines, infection control and accidents were managed appropriately, but some employment history checks were incomplete.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found clear management responsibilities, regular quality checks and a positive culture. People, relatives and staff said they felt listened to and had confidence in the managers.
What inspectors found, May 2023
Didsbury Court was rated Good overall; inspectors found people were safe and the home was well-led, but recruitment checks needed improvement.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 27 April and 2 May 2023. Inspectors spoke with people, a relative, staff and managers. They observed care and checked care records, medicines records, audits and other documents.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. People said they felt safe. Inspectors found that risks, medicines, infection control and incidents were managed appropriately. There were enough staff during the inspection, although some people felt staff were rushed and relied too much on agency staff.
Some employment history checks had not been completed fully, including checks on gaps in employment. Inspectors made a recommendation about recruitment. They also discussed the need for clearer guidance about best-interest decisions for one person's medicines.
The overall Good rating includes ratings carried forward from the last comprehensive inspection because this inspection only looked at Safe and Well-led. The home was last rated Good in September 2017.
People felt safe
People told inspectors they felt safe. Staff knew how to recognise and report possible abuse.
“People told us they felt safe living at the service.” from the report
Safe medicines management
Medicines were stored, administered and recorded safely. Audits were used to check that medicines were managed properly.
“Medicines were managed safely, and people received their medicines as prescribed for them.” from the report
Risks were understood
Care plans gave staff guidance about risks such as skin damage, choking, eating and drinking. Referrals were made to other professionals when needed.
“Risks to people's health and safety were identified and guidance was in place to ensure people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.” from the report
Positive management
People, relatives and staff spoke positively about the new managers. Inspectors found systems for checking quality and safety.
“The provider and manager promoted a positive culture within the service.” from the report
Incomplete recruitment checks
needs fixingSome checks of staff employment history were incomplete, including checks for gaps in employment. Inspectors recommended that recruitment processes be reviewed.
“However, some checks of staff's employment history had not been completed fully including exploring gaps in employment history.” from the report
Staffing pressures reported by some people
minorInspectors saw enough staff during the visit, but some people said staff seemed rushed and that the home relied too much on agency staff.
“However, some people felt staff were rushed and relied too much on agency staff.” from the report
Guidance about one person's medicines
needs fixingInspectors found that staff needed clearer guidance about when to make a best-interest decision for one person whose capacity changed.
“Improvements were needed to ensure staff had guidance on when to make a best interests decision regarding one person's medicines, who had fluctuating capacity.” from the report
- 01What changes have you made to check staff employment histories fully, including any gaps in employment?
- 02How many agency staff are currently working at the home, and how are you reducing reliance on agency staff?
- 03What guidance do staff now have for making best-interest decisions about medicines when a person's capacity fluctuates?
- 04Who is currently responsible for managing the home, and what is the progress of the manager's registration application?
- 05How do you use your daily, weekly and monthly checks to identify and fix problems in care records, medicines records and health and safety?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings were carried forward from the last comprehensive inspection and used to calculate the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 May 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, March 2020
Rated Good in all five areas; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care with good management.
The CQC carried out an unannounced inspection on 2 March 2020. One inspector spoke with 11 people, two relatives, five staff members and one healthcare professional. They also reviewed care, medicines, staff and management records.
The home provided personal care for 16 people aged 65 and over. Inspectors found people were safe, staff were kind and trained, medicines were managed safely, and people's care plans reflected their needs and preferences.
People were supported to make choices, stay independent, see healthcare professionals and take part in activities. The home was clean, well maintained and managed through regular checks. All five areas were rated Good, the same as at the previous inspection published on 21 September 2017.
Safe care and staffing
Inspectors found current risk assessments, enough staff and safe recruitment checks. Medicines were given safely by trained staff.
“There were enough staff on duty to meet people's needs and keep them safe.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
People and relatives consistently described staff as kind and caring. Inspectors saw staff being patient, reassuring and respectful.
“Without exception, people and their relatives told us staff were kind and caring.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans contained detailed information about people's needs, preferences and life history. Staff knew people well and supported their choices and independence.
“People received personalised care from staff who knew them well.” from the report
Activities and relationships
People could take part in activities, go into the community, attend church and spend time with family and friends. Staff also worked to prevent people cared for in their bedrooms from becoming isolated.
“People enjoyed taking part in social activities, going out in the local community, and spending time with family and friends.” from the report
Good management
The home had a stable staff team, clear responsibilities and regular checks on care quality and safety. People's views were collected through meetings and questionnaires.
“Quality assurance and governance systems were in place to assess, monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you meet my relative's needs if they require nursing care, given that the home does not provide nursing care?
- 02What overnight staffing levels are in place now, and how do they support people's preferred bedtimes and waking times?
- 03How would you adapt care, communication and activities to my relative's particular needs and preferences?
- 04How are medicines stored and checked, particularly if a storage area becomes too warm?
- 05How can relatives take part in care planning, residents' meetings and raising concerns?
This was an unannounced inspection that assessed all five CQC questions, with ratings remaining Good from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 March 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 Didsbury Court
4 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- May 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2013
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 May 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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21 live-in carers within about an hour of Torbay
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 £1,400 a week. 17 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“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.”
“She was not phased by anything, she was adaptable, kind & gave us complete confidence to go away & not worry about a thing!”
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.