CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Dunblane House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People had individual risk assessments and care plans explaining how risks should be reduced. Medicines were locked away, and staff had training and competency checks.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found a positive, family atmosphere and systems for checking the quality of care. People, relatives and other professionals were involved in reviewing support.
What inspectors found, November 2023
Dunblane House rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care in a small family-run home.
The inspection visit took place on 18 October 2023, with inspection activity running from 17 to 20 October. One inspector spoke with both people living at the home, the provider and the registered manager, and checked care records, safety records, maintenance records and quality checks.
Inspectors rated Safe and Well-led as Good. They found that people had risk assessments, medicines were safely managed, safeguarding systems were in place and health and safety checks were carried out. People were supported to make choices, remain independent and take part in activities they enjoyed.
The home was described as having a positive family atmosphere. People and relatives were involved in care planning and the running of the home. This was the same overall rating as at the previous inspection on 8 July 2018.
Choice and independence
People were supported to make choices, follow their interests and live as independently as possible.
“The service supported people to have choices and promoted their independence.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors found that people received compassionate care and that staff respected their privacy, dignity and human rights.
“People received kind and compassionate care from the provider and their family.” from the report
Safety arrangements
The home had risk assessments, fire evacuation plans, safety checks and safeguarding training.
“Health and safety checks were regularly carried out on the building, environment and equipment.” from the report
Positive culture
The home had a close family atmosphere, and people were involved in planning their care and giving feedback.
“There was a positive culture throughout the home and a family atmosphere.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would support be arranged if a family member providing care was unavailable?
- 02How would you support my relative during an emergency evacuation, and when was this plan last reviewed?
- 03How will you involve my relative and our family in reviewing their care plan?
- 04How are medicines checked when a person needs prompting or encouragement to take them?
- 05How do you identify and act on improvements when your quality monitoring finds an issue?
This inspection focused on Safe and Well-led; the report does not give current ratings for Effective, Caring or Responsive. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 November 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, July 2018
Dunblane House was rated Good; inspectors found safe, respectful and personalised care across all five areas.
This was a comprehensive, announced inspection on 05 June 2018. Inspectors spoke with two people living at the home, the registered manager, the provider and a staff member. They observed care and checked care records, medicines, staff records, staffing, meals, the building and management records.
The inspectors found that people felt safe and well supported. Medicines were managed safely, staffing was sufficient, care plans were personalised and people were supported to make choices. The home was clean, maintained and suitable for the people living there.
The home was rated Good in Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The report says this was the same as the previous inspection, with no evidence of serious risks or concerns.
People felt safe
People told inspectors they felt safe and knew what to do if they felt unsafe. Staff understood how to recognise and report abuse.
“I am pleased I moved here and feel safe.” from the report
Safe medicines support
Medicines were ordered, stored, given and disposed of correctly. People who were able to do so were supported to manage their own medicines after a risk assessment.
“Medicines were managed in line with The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) national guidance.” from the report
Respectful care
Staff treated people with dignity and respected privacy, including asking permission before entering bedrooms. People said staff cared for them in the way they wanted.
“We saw staff had a caring and sensitive approach and people were comfortable and chatty with them.” from the report
Personalised activities and choices
People were involved in care planning, food choices and household decisions. They were offered varied social, leisure, education and work opportunities.
“People experienced a level of care and support that promoted their wellbeing, encouraged them to enjoy a good quality of life and develop skills and hobbies.” from the report
Clean and suitable home
Inspectors found the home clean, hygienic, maintained and suitable for the care provided. Equipment was serviced and repairs were completed promptly.
“We found it had been maintained, was clean and hygienic and a safe place for people to live.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you assess and review whether my relative can safely manage any of their own medicines?
- 02How will my relative be involved in creating and reviewing their care plan?
- 03What activities, work or education opportunities would be available and how would these match my relative’s interests?
- 04What staffing arrangements would be in place when my relative needed help or someone to talk to?
- 05How would you respond if my relative or our family raised a concern or complaint?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering the care, premises and all five CQC questions; the home was rated Good in each area. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 July 2018 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 Dunblane House
3 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- November 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 6 January 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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32 live-in carers within about an hour of Blackpool
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. 31 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“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.”
“He developed a close affinity with Terence, spending time talking with him before he retired to bed and looking after his needs during the night.”
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.