CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Douglas Close
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People and relatives said they felt safe. Inspectors found that risks were assessed, staffing was sufficient, medicines were managed safely and infection control arrangements were effective.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had relevant training and supervision. People were supported with food, healthcare, accessible rooms and decisions about their care.
- Caring?
- Good
- Inspectors saw kind and respectful interactions. Staff supported privacy, dignity, choice and independence, and relatives were involved in care decisions.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were personalised and regularly reviewed. People were supported with communication, oral care, activities, relationships and access to the local community.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found open leadership, regular audits and a culture where people, relatives and staff could share their views. The provider worked with healthcare professionals and acted on suggested improvements.
What inspectors found, March 2023
Rated Good in all five areas; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care for the three people living there.
This was the first inspection since the home registered in December 2021. It was unannounced. Inspectors visited on 27 January and 1 February 2023, with inspection activity ending on 6 February.
Inspectors spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and healthcare professionals. They observed care, reviewed care and medicines records, and checked recruitment and management documents. They also reviewed infection prevention arrangements.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, personalised care plans, kind support and good links with healthcare professionals.
The Good rating means inspectors judged the service to be consistently meeting people's needs in these areas at the time of inspection. The report says the home will continue to be monitored, and there were no breaches or enforcement actions reported.
Independence and choice
Staff encouraged people to make choices and remain as independent as possible. Families were involved in decisions about care.
“Staff supported people to live as independently as possible and have autonomy over their lives.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors observed kind and compassionate interactions. People’s privacy, dignity, equality and personal preferences were respected.
“We found staff interacting with people in a kind and compassionate way throughout our inspection and people appeared to be at ease around staff.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people’s health, communication needs, preferences, goals and activities. Staff supported people to follow interests and stay connected with others.
“Care records were person-centred and gave staff the information needed to effectively support the individual.” from the report
Staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs and saw systems for training, competency checks, storage and recording of medicines.
“People did not have to wait for support and staff were able to spend time with them in line with their agreed individual support hours.” from the report
Open leadership
The provider and registered manager were actively involved. Staff, relatives and healthcare professionals said communication was good and concerns would be listened to.
“The provider and registered manager operated an open-door policy and we saw the provider was actively involved in the day-to-day running of the service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you make sure my relative's care plan continues to reflect their health needs, communication needs, preferences and goals?
- 02How will you support my relative to make choices and remain as independent as possible?
- 03How are medicines, including any 'as required' medicines, reviewed and recorded?
- 04What activities and community opportunities would be available for my relative based on their interests?
- 05How would you keep me informed about accidents, incidents, complaints or changes in my relative's care?
This was the first unannounced inspection and covered all five key questions, including infection prevention and control; the report says the home provides accommodation and personal care without nursing care. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 March 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.
Every inspection of Douglas Close
4 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- June 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2021
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 6 December 2021.
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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77 live-in carers within about an hour of Surrey
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 £1,250 a week. 66 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“Without his support we wouldn't have been able to navigate bringing and keeping Dad at home.”
“Not only has she looked after him beautifully, she has also been great company for him with lively conversation, kindness and humour.”
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.