CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Dystlegh Grange
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from avoidable harm. Inspectors found safe medicines systems, enough staff, a clean environment and clear learning from accidents and incidents.
- Effective?
- Outstanding
- People received excellent support with food, drink and healthcare. Detailed records and strong work with health professionals helped people receive timely and consistent care.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- Staff treated people with exceptional kindness, dignity and respect. People were supported to remain independent and were involved as active partners in their care.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Care plans reflected people's personal histories, preferences and needs. People led activities, maintained relationships and were supported to continue interests inside and outside the home.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- Inspectors found exceptional leadership, strong quality checks and a culture of continuous improvement. People living in the home helped shape recruitment, activities and the running of the home.
What inspectors found, July 2019
Rated Outstanding overall; inspectors found exceptional care, with the safe question rated Good.
Inspectors visited without notice on 4 and 5 June 2019. They spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and health professionals. They reviewed care records, medicines records, staff files and management records, and looked around the home.
The home was rated Outstanding overall. Effective, caring, responsive and well-led were all rated Outstanding. Safe was rated Good. Inspectors found people felt safe, respected and involved, with highly personalised care and strong links with health services and the local community.
The home had kept its previous Outstanding overall rating, published in December 2016. Responsive and well-led improved from Good to Outstanding. Safe remained Good, while effective and caring remained Outstanding.
Personalised care
Staff knew people very well and adapted support to their individual interests, abilities and goals. People were involved in their care and supported to remain independent.
“The home's care and support of people was very person-centred.” from the report
Kind relationships
Inspectors saw warm, respectful relationships between people and staff. Relatives and professionals also gave exceptionally positive feedback.
“We observed staff consistently treated people with a very kind and compassionate manner.” from the report
Activities and community life
People led activities and were supported to maintain friendships, attend clubs, join community events and take part in research.
“People led the activities programme.” from the report
Health and records
Detailed medical records helped health professionals respond quickly. The home also acted promptly to monitor health concerns and prevent pressure sores.
“The exceptionally good record keeping enabled people to access primary healthcare services quickly” from the report
Safe environment
The home was clean and well maintained. Medicines were stored safely, staff received checks and training, and accidents were recorded with actions to reduce repeat risks.
“The environment was exceptionally clean and well maintained.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01The report is from 2019. What has changed in the home since this inspection?
- 02How do people and relatives still take part in choosing and recruiting new staff?
- 03How are care plans kept up to date when a person's needs, preferences or health change?
- 04How does the home make sure there are enough staff when people want to attend appointments, meetings or events outside the home?
- 05What activities and community links would be available for my relative based on their interests?
This was an unannounced two-day inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the premises, care, records, medicines, staffing and management systems. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 July 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.
What inspectors found, December 2016
Rated Outstanding overall; inspectors found exceptionally caring, effective and personalised support, with one minor medicines storage check to improve.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 5 September 2016. Inspectors observed care, reviewed four care records, staff training and recruitment records, and management information. They spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and health professionals.
The home was rated Outstanding overall. Care was especially strong in supporting people's health, independence, choices and relationships. Inspectors found kind staff, good staffing levels, safe medicines administration, personalised care plans and strong links with local health professionals.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found one minor issue: the temperature of the medicines storage room was not being monitored. The report does not state that any regulations were breached or that enforcement action was taken.
Meaningful lives
People were supported to keep their interests, routines and relationships. Activities were shaped around what mattered to each person.
“The service provided outstanding care and support to people enabling them to live fulfilled and meaningful lives.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw staff treating people with warmth, respect and patience. People appeared comfortable and relaxed with staff.
“Kindness, respect and maintaining dignity were integral to the day-to-day practice of the service.” from the report
Strong health support
People's health was monitored and staff worked closely with doctors, nurses and other professionals. Staff also supported people to attend hospital appointments.
“People's health care needs were addressed. The registered manager and staff had very effective links with, and were respected by, local healthcare professionals.” from the report
Personalised choices
People were involved in planning their care and could influence their routines, meals, activities and the running of the home.
“Care plans had been produced that were centred on people's individual needs, preferences and goals.” from the report
Stable staff team
Inspectors found experienced staff who knew people well. The home had not used bank or agency staff and the average staff tenure was over eight years.
“The average staff tenure was over 8 years and Dystlegh Grange had never used bank or agency staff” from the report
Medicines storage temperature
minorThe temperature of the medicines storage room was not being checked. The manager said this would be monitored in future.
“However, we did note that the temperature of the medicines store room was not monitored.” from the report
- 01How do you now monitor and record the temperature of the medicines store room?
- 02How many care staff are on duty during the day and overnight, and how do you increase staffing when someone's needs change?
- 03How will my relative be involved in planning and reviewing their care and daily routines?
- 04What support is available for hospital appointments, changes in health and communication with relatives?
- 05What activities and community links could be arranged around my relative's own interests?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC areas and the overall rating of the home. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 December 2016 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. The report was longer than we could read in one go; the later sections may not be reflected.
Every inspection of Dystlegh Grange
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Outstanding rating throughout.
- July 2019Outstandingcurrent ratingstayed OutstandingSafe: GoodEffective: OutstandingCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- December 2016OutstandingSafe: GoodEffective: OutstandingCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 6 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 Cheshire East
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. 88 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“She is an exemplary carer, she is knowledgable empathetic and very respectful in the home.”
“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.