CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Dunelm
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that risks were assessed and managed, medicines were safely administered and recorded, and there were enough staff, including one-to-one support for activities and visits.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. The report describes people as receiving kind and compassionate care, but does not give a current rating for Caring.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. The report says support plans reflected people's goals and needs, but does not give a current rating for Responsive.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found regular audits, reviewed risk assessments, staff training and a positive culture where people, relatives and staff could raise concerns and help improve the service.
What inspectors found, February 2024
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, person-centred care and strong management, but only safety and leadership were inspected.
The inspection visit took place on 17 January 2024. It was announced 24 hours in advance. Inspectors spoke with people living in the home, an advocate, relatives and staff. They reviewed care, medicines, recruitment and management records, and looked around the premises.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found that risks were assessed, medicines were managed safely, staffing was sufficient and staff knew how to report abuse. People were supported to make choices, take part in activities and keep their independence.
Inspectors found regular audits, staff training and an open culture where people, relatives and staff could raise concerns. The overall rating remained Good, as the other three areas were not inspected and their previous ratings were used.
Safe care and medicines
Risks were assessed and monitored. Inspectors found that medicines were managed safely, with guidance for medicines given only when needed.
“Medicines were managed, recorded and administered safely.” from the report
Enough staff
The home had enough staff to provide individual support and help people take part in activities and visits when they wanted.
“The service had enough staff, including 1-1 support for people to take part in activities and visits how and when they wanted.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were supported to pursue their interests, make choices and receive support in the least restrictive way.
“People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible” from the report
Open management
Staff felt supported and able to raise concerns. Regular meetings allowed people and staff to discuss concerns and changes.
“Regular staff and resident meetings were held which gave the opportunity for people to raise any concerns” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would staffing and one-to-one support be arranged for my relative's activities, visits and daily choices?
- 02What risks would be assessed in my relative's support plan, and how often would those assessments be reviewed?
- 03How would you support my relative to take medicines independently where this is safe and appropriate?
- 04What training would staff receive to meet my relative's specific learning disability or autistic needs?
- 05How would my family be involved in meetings, reviews and any changes to the service?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led; Effective, Caring and Responsive were not inspected and their previous ratings were used for the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 10 February 2024 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, April 2018
Dunelm was rated Good; inspectors found safe, caring and personalised support with effective management.
This was an announced inspection on 19 February 2018, with family members contacted by telephone on 23 February. The inspector spoke with the manager, staff, family members and a health professional. They reviewed three people's care records, four staff files and the home's management records.
The home supported up to four people with learning disabilities and autism. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicine arrangements, suitable recruitment checks, good safeguarding arrangements and appropriate health and safety checks. The home was clean and people's risks were assessed.
People received personalised support from trained staff. Inspectors found that staff promoted dignity, independence, choice and community activities. The home was rated Good in all five areas and remained Good, as it had been at the previous inspection in December 2015.
Personalised support
Care plans were written around each person's wishes, abilities, communication needs and routines. People were involved in writing their plans and setting goals.
“People's care records were person centred, which means the person was at the centre of any care or support plans” from the report
Dignity and independence
Staff respected privacy and encouraged people to do as much as possible for themselves. Support included people's preferred names, bedroom choices and religious needs.
“This demonstrated that staff supported people to be independent and people were encouraged to care for themselves where possible.” from the report
Safety arrangements
Inspectors found sufficient staffing, appropriate risk assessments, safeguarding arrangements and safe medicine systems. The home also carried out checks on fire safety, equipment and infection control.
“We found appropriate arrangements were in place for the safe administration and storage of medicines.” from the report
Activities and community life
People had activities linked to their interests and were supported to use local facilities and attend day services. This included sports, outings and community activities.
“The provider protected people from social isolation.” from the report
Listening and oversight
The provider gathered views through meetings and surveys and used regular checks to monitor the service. Staff said they felt supported by the management team.
“This demonstrated that the provider gathered information about the quality of their service from a variety of sources and acted to address shortfalls where they were identified.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you support my relative's particular communication needs, including how they prefer information to be given?
- 02What positive behaviour support plans or other guidance would staff use if my relative became upset?
- 03How would you help my relative build independence through everyday tasks and individual goals?
- 04Which activities and community opportunities could be matched to my relative's interests?
- 05How would you keep our family informed about health appointments, medicines, incidents or changes in support?
This was an announced inspection covering all five CQC questions, with a visit on 19 February and family telephone calls on 23 February 2018. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 April 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 Dunelm
3 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2024Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 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.
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
46 live-in carers within about an hour of Sunderland
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 £950 to £1,210 a week. 42 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Petty introduced herself to Mum every time she was caring for her and responded very quickly to Mum if she was distressed in 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.