CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Dovedale Court
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found effective safeguarding, risk assessments, staffing, medicines management, infection control and safety checks. They found people were protected from avoidable harm.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found clear management responsibilities, regular checks and audits, good communication and a positive staff culture. The manager and provider acted on incidents and used feedback to improve care.
What inspectors found, December 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind care and strong management, with no breaches reported.
This was an unannounced inspection. Inspectors visited on 14 and 16 November 2023, spoke with people, relatives and staff, observed care, checked medicines and reviewed care, recruitment, safety and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found that people were protected from abuse, risks were assessed, medicines were managed safely, staffing was sufficient and the home was clean and well maintained.
Inspectors also found a calm atmosphere, kind interactions and good communication. Staff understood people's needs, worked well as a team and were supported by approachable management. The overall rating remained Good, as the other three key question ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection.
Safe care and risk management
People had detailed care records and personalised risk assessments. Staff were trained to support people with distress or heightened behaviour safely and in the least restrictive way.
“People had in depth care records covering a range of health and care needs, and personalised risk assessments were completed” from the report
Medicines managed safely
Inspectors found that people received medicines as prescribed. Staff had training and competency checks, and medicines were stored, recorded and audited appropriately.
“People received their medicines safely and as prescribed.” from the report
Kind and person-centred culture
Inspectors saw calm, kind interactions. People and relatives spoke positively about staff understanding individual needs and supporting quality of life.
“The atmosphere at the home was calm and pleasant, and we observed kind and caring interactions; indicative of a good culture.” from the report
Strong management and teamwork
The home had regular checks, audits and meetings to monitor care and safety. Staff said they felt supported and worked well together.
“There was good oversight of the service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What are the current arrangements for supporting people who display heightened or distressed behaviour?
- 02How are people's care records and risk assessments reviewed when their needs change?
- 03How do you check that medicines are given correctly and that any errors lead to changes in practice?
- 04What improvements have been made, or are planned, to the upper lounge and dining room?
- 05What were the ratings and findings for Effective, Caring and Responsive at the previous comprehensive inspection?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe and Well-led; the ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive were carried forward from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 December 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 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found several infection-control measures in place, but staff did not always use face masks correctly and some rooms were poorly ventilated.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 8 February 2022. It focused on infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 response, and also asked about staffing pressures. The home was inspected but not rated.
Inspectors found that visits, testing, vaccination, cleaning, infection-control policies and supplies of protective equipment were in place. The home also supported virtual visits and kept links with health professionals.
There were shortfalls. Three staff were seen supporting people without face masks, or with masks pulled down. Some rooms where people had tested positive for COVID-19 were not well ventilated, and some window handles were broken. The home took immediate action to arrange refresher infection-control training.
Visitor checks
Visitors were booked in and asked for health information and evidence of a negative lateral flow test.
“A 'booking in' procedure was in place for all types of visitors to the home including, a health questionnaire and evidence of a negative lateral flow test.” from the report
Testing and vaccination
People and staff were tested regularly, and the report says staff were vaccinated.
“People and staff were tested regularly for COVID-19. Staff employed at the home had been vaccinated, to help keep people safe from the risk of infection.” from the report
Cleaning and infection controls
The home had infection-control policies, audits and cleaning schedules intended to reduce the spread of infection.
“Cleaning schedules and audits were in place to help maintain cleanliness and minimise the spread of infection.” from the report
Masks were not used consistently
seriousInspectors saw three staff supporting people without face masks. The home was asked to take immediate action and arrange refresher infection-control training.
“We were not assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Poor ventilation in some areas
needs fixingAreas where people had tested positive for COVID-19 were not well ventilated. Some window handles were broken and could not be operated.
“We found areas where service users had tested positive of COVID-19 were not well ventilated and some window handles were broken and could not be operated.” from the report
- 01What refresher infection-control training did staff receive after inspectors saw masks being used incorrectly?
- 02How do managers now check that staff wear face masks correctly when supporting residents?
- 03Have the broken window handles been repaired, and how is ventilation checked in areas used by people with infections?
- 04How are visitor health questionnaires, lateral flow test evidence and vaccination requirements checked now?
- 05What infection-control concerns or staffing pressures are currently affecting the home?
This was an unannounced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, with questions about staffing pressures; the home was inspected but not rated and other care areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 March 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.
Every inspection of Dovedale Court
3 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- December 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- November 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 15 February 2011.
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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85 live-in carers within about an hour of Lancashire
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. 78 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“She understands the needs of an elderly person in the early stages of dementia and has treated my mother with great kindness and skill.”
“Thanks to Tracy, Dad was always immaculately dressed and clean, his meals were all home cooked and nutritionally well balanced and his home was always kept really clean and tidy.”
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.