CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Dunley Hall and Ryans Court
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Risks were assessed, staffing levels were sufficient, medicines were administered safely and accidents were reviewed, although some training and building maintenance needed attention.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this focused inspection. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this focused inspection. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this focused inspection. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The service was consistently managed and had a positive, open culture. However, the provider's audits had not identified every issue found during the inspection.
What inspectors found, January 2024
Dunley Hall and Ryans Court is rated Good; inspectors found people felt safe and well cared for, but some staff training and building maintenance needed attention.
This was an unannounced inspection on the first day and a planned return on the second day. One inspector and an Expert by Experience spoke with people, relatives, staff and a visiting professional. They also checked records, medicines, risks, staffing, infection control and management systems.
The home was rated Good overall, with Safe and Well-led also rated Good. People said they felt safe and relatives spoke positively about the care. Staff knew people's risks, medicines were given as prescribed, incidents were reviewed, and people could receive visitors without restrictions.
Inspectors found some areas needing improvement. Some staff training had expired, some flooring and equipment were damaged, and some issues had not been found by the provider's audits. The provider gave assurances that these matters would be addressed.
People felt safe
People and relatives said they felt safe and well cared for. Staff understood people's risks and knew how to respond to concerns about abuse.
“I'm lovely and safe, I don't worry about anything.” from the report
Enough staff
Inspectors found there were enough suitable staff to meet people's needs. Recruitment checks, including DBS checks, had been completed.
“There's plenty of staff always. When I ring my bell they come so quickly.” from the report
Safe medicines support
Medicines were given safely and reviewed regularly by GPs. There was clear guidance for medicines given when needed or covertly.
“People had regular reviews of their medicines carried out by the GP.” from the report
Open and caring culture
People, relatives and staff spoke positively about the culture. Relatives were kept informed and could use the family gateway to view care information and photographs.
“I couldn't ask for more, I haven't come across a carer who's not caring.” from the report
Some training had expired
needs fixingSome safeguarding training and medicines training was out of date. Staff still showed good knowledge and practice, and the provider said this would be corrected.
“Most staff had up to date training in safe handling of medicines, however, we saw some staff's training had expired.” from the report
Damaged flooring and equipment
needs fixingSome flooring and equipment needed refurbishment. Inspectors said this could make cleaning less effective.
“The home was clean and free from odours however, we did find some areas of the service which needed refurbishment, for example, some of the flooring and equipment were damaged, this meant cleaning may not always be effective.” from the report
Audits missed some issues
needs fixingThe provider's quality checks had not identified all the problems found during the inspection. The provider said some audits had been reviewed and amended.
“Some of the issues we found during our inspection had not been identified in the providers audits.” from the report
PRN reviews were not recorded
minorReviews of medicines given when needed were taking place, but the reviews were not recorded on the relevant protocols. The manager said the form would be changed.
“Whilst reviews were taking place, these were not evidenced on the PRN protocols.” from the report
- 01Have all expired safeguarding and medicines training courses now been completed, and how do you check that training stays up to date?
- 02Which flooring and equipment needed refurbishment, and have all the damaged areas now been repaired or replaced?
- 03What changes have been made to the provider's audits so they identify problems found during inspections?
- 04How are reviews of medicines given when needed now recorded on the relevant protocols?
- 05What were the ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive at the previous inspection?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 January 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, November 2018
Dunley Hall and Ryans Court is rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with no serious risks identified.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 10 October 2018. Inspectors observed care, spoke with people, relatives, staff and health professionals, and checked care records, medicines, recruitment files, complaints and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, suitable care planning and good support with food, drink and healthcare.
People and relatives described kind relationships with staff. Staff supported people to make choices, maintain their independence and follow their preferred lifestyles. The home had no registered manager at the time, but the provider was taking reasonable steps to address this.
The home was still rated Good, as it was at the previous inspection in January 2016. CQC said there was no evidence of serious risks or concerns.
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff and saw that medicines were stored and given with checks in place.
“There were enough staff to care for people.” from the report
Kind relationships
Staff knew people's interests and spent time talking with them. People were supported in a calm and respectful way.
“Staff knew people well, and understand what was important to them.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans reflected people's histories, preferences and changing needs. Staff adjusted support to people's choices each day.
“People's care plans reflected how they wished to live their lives.” from the report
Good involvement and choice
People and relatives were involved in care planning. Staff supported people to make decisions and maintain independence.
“People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible” from the report
Quality monitoring
The home used checks, feedback, meetings and reviews of incidents and complaints to monitor care and identify improvements.
“Records we saw showed us there were systems in place to check the safety and quality of the care provided.” from the report
No registered manager in post
needs fixingThere was no registered manager at the inspection. The provider said a manager had started and was applying to become registered.
“There was no registered manager in post when we inspected, however, the provider's representative had taken reasonable steps to address this.” from the report
- 01Has a registered manager now been appointed and registered with CQC?
- 02How are medicines checked, and what changes were made to reduce the risk of errors?
- 03How will you make sure care plans are updated when a person's needs or preferences change?
- 04How are people and their relatives involved in decisions about care, activities and end-of-life wishes?
- 05How do you decide when extra staff are needed, for example if someone becomes ill or needs more support?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions and the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 November 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 Dunley Hall and Ryans Court
3 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2024Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 2 May 2012.
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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Worcestershire
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. 85 can care for a couple. 9 years' experience on average.
“I have never met a person who is so kind and thinks about others before himself to such an extent as Chris Malagala.”
“She was very caring, kind and patient to all his needs, she built up a wondetful rapport with him, she was dedicated and was there for him through good times as well as through the tough times”
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.