CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Dimensions 87 Hazel Avenue
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough suitable staff, comprehensive risk assessments, safe medicines practice and measures to reduce infection risks. Staff had safeguarding training and knew how to report concerns.
- Effective?
- Good
- Care plans were individual and regularly reviewed. Staff had relevant training, worked with health professionals and supported people's eating, drinking, healthcare and legal rights.
- Caring?
- Good
- Relatives and staff described care as kind. Inspectors observed privacy, dignity and independence being respected, and found that staff understood people's individual ways of communicating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans described people's preferences and support needs. People were supported with activities, community access, relationships, communication and religious or cultural needs.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found a warm and open culture, regular quality checks and a service improvement plan. The management systems were described as effective in identifying and acting on improvements.
What inspectors found, October 2019
Dimensions 87 Hazel Avenue is rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care with effective management.
This was an unannounced, planned inspection on 5 September 2019. One inspector reviewed records, medicines, recruitment and management systems, and spoke with relatives, staff and the manager. Residents could not speak with the inspector, so their care was assessed through observation.
The home supported five people with learning disabilities and/or autism. Inspectors found suitable staffing, safe medicines practice, detailed risk assessments and good infection control. Staff knew people well and supported their health, communication, choices and independence.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was the same overall rating and the same rating in each area as at the previous inspection, published on 10 March 2017.
Promoting independence
Support focused on giving people choice, control and opportunities to learn new skills and become more independent.
“People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.” from the report
Safe medicines
Trained staff gave medicines as prescribed, and the provider checked medicines records for gaps or mistakes.
“The provider had a system to audit medicines records and follow up any gaps or mistakes in records.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's histories, preferences, communication methods and support needs. Staff worked with families and other professionals where appropriate.
“People had support plans in place which covered a range of information about them, their life histories, preferences, likes and dislikes and their support needs.” from the report
Activities and community life
People were supported to take part in activities at home and in the community, including day trips, holidays and social activities.
“People were supported to take part in activities both in the home and in the community.” from the report
Management oversight
The manager used audits, staff meetings, feedback and an improvement plan to monitor the quality of care.
“There was a governance system in place to ensure there was appropriate oversight of the service to identify improvements needed.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you support my relative's particular way of communicating, especially if they cannot communicate verbally?
- 02What current risk assessments and staff training are in place for risks such as choking, seizures or pressure areas?
- 03How will you involve me in care plan reviews and decisions if my relative cannot make a particular decision?
- 04What activities and community opportunities would be available for my relative?
- 05How do you check that medicines are given correctly and that records remain complete?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions, the premises and the care provided; residents could not speak with the inspector, so observations were used. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 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.
What inspectors found, March 2017
Rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, kind care, but records about changing needs were not always clear.
The inspection took place on 10 January 2017 and was announced 48 hours beforehand. One inspector observed all four residents, spoke with staff, the manager, relatives and legal representatives, and reviewed care, medicines, staff and management records.
Inspectors found the home safe, effective, caring and well-led. Staff understood residents' communication, supported their choices, provided kind care, managed medicines safely and helped people take part in activities and community life.
The home was rated Requires Improvement for being responsive. Some care records were task-focused and did not clearly explain how staff should respond to changing needs. The report says the home was making improvements under new leadership.
Kind and respectful care
Staff showed warmth, patience and compassion. People appeared relaxed and comfortable with them.
“People were supported by staff who consistently demonstrated kindness, compassion and a genuine interest in the people they supported.” from the report
Safe support
Risks were assessed and staff followed guidance for moving people and supporting those at risk of choking. Medicines records were completed correctly.
“We observed people assessed as at risk of choking being supported to eat, staff followed peoples individual risk assessments and SALT guidance on the precise texture and consistency of food items” from the report
Understanding communication
Staff recognised residents' individual ways of communicating and used these to understand their choices and needs.
“Staff understood people's communication methods and used those methods to seek people's consent.” from the report
Meaningful activities
People were supported with individual activities and wider community activities. Staff had more time to interact with residents following changes to staffing patterns.
“People were engaged in individual meaningful occupation and activities and were supported to take part in wider community activities.” from the report
Improving leadership
The new manager and staff team were described as committed to improving care. Audits and an improvement plan were used to track actions.
“The service was in a period of positive transition.” from the report
Unclear guidance about changing needs
needs fixingTwo examples showed that records did not clearly explain how staff should meet changing needs. One person had been told to receive plenty of fluids after hospital discharge, but there was no evidence that this had happened.
“However, we saw two examples where the guidance for staff on meeting the changing needs of people were not clear.” from the report
Records were not always person-centred
needs fixingSome support plans and daily records were written in a task-focused way rather than showing the person's individual needs and preferences. The report says this work was not yet embedded.
“However, not all support plans and daily records were reflective of person centred principals and some were recorded in a task focused way.” from the report
- 01What changes have you made to ensure care records clearly describe people's changing needs?
- 02How do you record and check temporary medical advice, such as instructions after a hospital discharge?
- 03How often are care plans formally reviewed, and how are relatives or legal representatives involved?
- 04How do you make sure bank or agency staff understand each person's communication signs and care needs?
- 05What activities are currently available for each resident, and how are these matched to their interests and mood?
This was an announced inspection covering all five key questions, with observations of all four residents, discussions with staff and representatives, and reviews of three people's care records. This explanation was written from the published report of 10 March 2017 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 Dimensions 87 Hazel Avenue
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- October 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2017GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2012
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 4 January 2012.
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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Most charge £1,020 to £1,260 a week. 23 can care for a couple. 14 years' experience on average.
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