CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Dovecote Manor Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, March 2021
Dovecote Manor Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 17 February 2021. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control arrangements because of coronavirus outbreaks in care homes.
Inspectors were assured that the home had safe arrangements for visitors, social distancing, admissions, protective equipment, testing and managing outbreaks. They also found the building clean and well maintained, with regular cleaning of frequently touched areas.
The home had infection control training, updated policies, changing facilities for staff, and systems for isolation and separating clean and soiled laundry. The inspection did not give an overall quality rating, and it did not assess all five areas of care.
Visitor safety
Visitors had temperature checks and a COVID-19 questionnaire before entering. Posters reminded people about hand hygiene, distancing and face coverings.
“Safe arrangements were in place for all visitors to the service. This included taking temperature checks and carrying out a specific COVID-19 questionnaire.” from the report
Cleaning
The home was clean and well maintained. Records showed that cleaning schedules were followed, including extra cleaning of frequently touched areas.
“Enhanced cleaning and disinfection took place throughout the home to reduce the risk of the spread of infection.” from the report
Protective equipment and testing
Staff had enough protective equipment, and regular COVID-19 testing was in place for staff and people living at the home.
“A regular programme of testing for COVID-19 was in place for all staff and people using the service.” from the report
Outbreak management
The home used isolation, cohorting and zoning when needed. Staff also met healthcare professionals to learn from outbreaks and strengthen infection controls.
“Regular meetings took place with healthcare professionals to reflect and learn from COVID-19 outbreaks and heightened infection control measures were implemented to contain and manage outbreaks.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are visitor checks, testing and protective equipment arrangements being carried out now?
- 02How would you isolate or move people if there was another infection outbreak?
- 03How often are frequently touched areas cleaned, and can families see the cleaning records?
- 04What infection prevention and control training do staff receive now?
- 05How do you use lessons from outbreaks or meetings with healthcare professionals to improve practice?
This was an unannounced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control practices only; it was not a full inspection of all five key questions and the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 March 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.
What inspectors found, November 2019
Dovecote Manor Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with fewer activities available while a coordinator was being recruited.
This was an unannounced planned inspection on 28 October 2019. Inspectors spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and health professionals. They also reviewed care records, medicines records, recruitment files and quality checks.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, detailed care plans and good support with eating, drinking and health needs.
People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff knew people well and supported their choices and independence. The management team was described as open and proactive, with regular checks and action to improve the service.
The main shortfall was that several people wanted more activities. The activities coordinator had left and recruitment was still taking place, although staff continued to spend time with people and outside activity providers visited.
Staffing and safety
Inspectors found consistent staffing and timely responses when people needed help. Risk management, recruitment, medicines and infection control were also reported as safe.
“There were enough staff on site to keep people safe, and feedback we got from people and staff was that staffing levels were consistent.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans included people's needs, wishes, preferences, histories and diversity needs. Staff knew people well and tailored support to them.
“People's personal histories, preferences and dislikes, diversity needs such as cultural or religious needs and links with family were all considered within the care plans.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives spoke positively about the care. Staff were observed supporting people with warmth, respect, dignity and encouragement to stay independent.
“We saw a lot of laughter and chat between people and staff throughout the inspection visit.” from the report
Health support
The home worked with health and social care professionals and acted promptly when concerns arose. Records showed people's health needs and appointments were kept up to date.
“They call us if they are worried about anyone. Staff know people really well, they know if people are not feeling well even if there are no obvious signs.” from the report
Management and improvement
The management team carried out regular audits, acted on identified issues and encouraged feedback. Inspectors found the service was open and focused on continuous improvement.
“The management team completed a full range of quality audits on a monthly basis and we saw that actions were identified and addressed in order to drive continuous improvements.” from the report
Activities vacancy
needs fixingSeveral people said they wanted more activities. The activities coordinator had recently left and recruitment was ongoing, although staff provided activities and external people delivered music, exercise and art therapy.
“Several people told us they wanted more activities on offer.” from the report
- 01Who is currently responsible for activities, and how often are activities offered each week?
- 02How do you find out about my relative's interests, cultural or religious needs and preferred daily routines?
- 03How will you make sure there are enough staff to respond quickly if my relative needs help?
- 04How are medicines, falls, nutrition and other changing risks reviewed and shared with staff?
- 05How would you involve my family in care planning, complaints and end of life decisions if needed?
This was an unannounced planned inspection that reviewed the home across all five CQC questions, including the premises and care provided; all five ratings remained Good from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 November 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.
Every inspection of Dovecote Manor Care Home
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- November 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 3 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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Milton Keynes
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 £1,260 a week. 90 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“We can all fully relax around Nyarai and she feels like part of our family, which is no mean feat!”
“She was v competent and confident and we felt our mum was safe in her care. She supported us through a difficult time.”
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.