CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Dimensions Somerset Newholme
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, December 2022
Rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found kind, personalised care, but problems with records, medicines and quality monitoring.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 5 and 10 October 2022. One inspector spoke with or observed all seven people living in the home, spoke with staff, relatives and professionals, and checked medicines, care records and management systems.
People were treated with kindness and dignity. Staff understood people's communication needs, supported their choices and helped them take part in activities and visits in the local community. The Responsive rating improved from Requires Improvement to Good.
There were important safety and management problems. Some care plans and risk assessments were not up to date or available to staff, some staff lacked required training, and medicines were not always stored safely. Capacity records also needed more regular review.
The overall rating was Requires Improvement. Safe was Requires Improvement, Responsive was Good, and Well-led remained Requires Improvement. This was the home's third inspection without an overall Good rating.
Kind and dignified care
Staff treated people with kindness, protected their dignity and understood their individual needs.
“People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people's privacy and dignity.” from the report
Personal communication
Staff used people's individual communication methods, including objects, pictures, sounds and symbols, to help them express choices and needs.
“People who had individual ways of communicating, using body language, sounds, pictures and symbols could interact comfortably with staff.” from the report
Activities and community links
People were supported to enjoy activities, walks, coffee trips and links with the local community.
“During the inspection we observed staff supporting people in the garden with activities they enjoyed, another person being supported into the community for a coffee, and others being supported into the local area for a walk.” from the report
Staff knowledge
Core and agency staff showed good knowledge of people's needs and risks. Relatives and professionals also gave positive feedback about the support.
“Staff, including agency staff, had a very good knowledge of the people they supported and were able to tell us about people's individual needs and risks.” from the report
Care and risk records
seriousSome care plans and risk assessments were not robust, up to date or available in people's files. This meant staff did not always have clear written guidance for safe, consistent care.
“Some of the care plans that were currently being used within the service were not robust and did not provide sufficient information.” from the report
Medicines storage
seriousAn opened liquid medicine was not dated, and temperature checks for medicine cupboards were inconsistent. One cupboard had readings outside the acceptable range.
“Medicines were not always stored in line with best practice.” from the report
Training gaps
seriousNot all staff had the current training needed to support a person's specific health condition. The manager took action to arrange the training during the inspection.
“Not all staff had received relevant training to ensure the safety of people.” from the report
Capacity records
needs fixingCapacity assessments did not always record how people were supported to take part in decisions, or show that decisions were reviewed regularly.
“Where people lacked the capacity to make specific decisions, there was also not always evidence of decisions being regularly reviewed.” from the report
Weak quality checks
seriousThe home's monitoring systems had not identified some of the training and medicine storage problems found by inspectors. This led to a breach of Regulation 17.
“Systems and processes were not operated effectively to assess, monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service.” from the report
- 01Which care plans and risk assessments were updated after the inspection, and how do you make sure staff can always find the current versions?
- 02What training has now been completed for staff supporting people with specific health conditions?
- 03How do you check medicine storage temperatures and expiry dates every day?
- 04What action has been taken to meet the Regulation 17 breach, and what evidence can you show of improvement?
- 05How are people's capacity assessments and best-interest decisions reviewed and updated?
This inspection looked at the overall quality of the care home, including the premises and care provided, and gave ratings for Safe, Responsive and Well-led. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 December 2022 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, June 2021
Dimensions Somerset Newholme: Rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found safe, effective and kind care, but management was not yet consistently strong.
This was a focused inspection on 11 May 2021. Inspectors looked at Safe, Effective and Well-led after concerns about staffing and care. They met everyone living in the home, observed care, spoke with staff and relatives, and checked records.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Effective. Inspectors found suitable staffing, safe medicines systems, risk checks, infection control and care that reflected people's needs. Staff were described as kind and caring, and people appeared relaxed.
Well-led was rated Requires Improvement. The home had experienced several management changes, causing poor morale and confusion. Improvements had begun, but inspectors wanted to see them continue for longer. The overall rating remained Requires Improvement.
The previous inspection also rated the home Requires Improvement and found a breach of one regulation. At this inspection, the provider had made improvements and was no longer in breach.
Safe care and staffing
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs. Staff took their time and worked at each person's pace.
“There were adequate numbers of staff to meet people's needs.” from the report
Kind staff
Staff treated people as individuals and provided caring support. People appeared comfortable and relaxed with them.
“People were cared for by staff who were kind and compassionate.” from the report
Improved safety systems
The home had introduced regular checks and systems to manage risks, medicines and incidents. This was an improvement from the previous inspection.
“Risks to people were minimised because regular health and safety checks were taking place.” from the report
Individual care
Care plans set out people's abilities, likes and needs. Staff supported people to make choices in ways suited to them.
“People had care and support plans which set out their abilities, likes and needs.” from the report
Management stability
needs fixingSeveral management changes had affected staff morale and caused confusion. A new permanent manager had just started, so inspectors had not yet seen whether improvements would last.
“The home had experienced a period of inconsistent management which staff said had led to poor morale and confusion.” from the report
Provider oversight
needs fixingThe provider's monitoring had not always supported effective management of the home. Inspectors wanted to see stronger systems working consistently over time.
“The provider's monitoring of the service had not always been effective in supporting the management of the home” from the report
Meal choices
minorThere was no menu or picture information to help people choose meals. Management said pictures were planned.
“However, there was no menu or pictures to help people to make choices.” from the report
- 01What has been done to provide stability after the recent management changes?
- 02How are you checking that the improvements to safety systems continue to work?
- 03What arrangements are in place to support the new permanent manager?
- 04Have menus or pictures now been introduced to help people choose meals?
- 05What were the previous ratings for Caring and Responsive, since these were not checked at this inspection?
This was a focused inspection of Safe, Effective and Well-led only; Caring and Responsive were not inspected and their previous ratings were carried over. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 June 2021 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 Somerset Newholme
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Requires improvement rating throughout.
- December 2022Requires improvementcurrent ratingstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
Read what inspectors found at Dimensions Somerset Newholme →
- June 2021Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
Read what inspectors found at Dimensions Somerset Newholme →
- March 2019Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2017
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 3 April 2017.
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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