CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Old Dairy
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People felt safe and staff understood safeguarding, risk management and medicines procedures. Risk assessments were in place and staff acted on advice when people's needs changed.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs, choices and health needs were assessed and reviewed. Staff had suitable training and worked with health and social care professionals.
- Caring?
- Good
- Inspectors observed kindness, respect and friendly relationships. People were involved in decisions, had privacy and were supported to be as independent as possible.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Support plans reflected people's histories, interests, routines and goals. People were supported with relationships, family contact, activities, work and community access.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had a positive, open culture and staff felt supported. Audits, meetings and development plans were used to monitor care and make improvements.
What inspectors found, March 2019
Rated Good in every area; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with some future planning still being developed.
The inspection took place on 6 March 2019 and was announced 24 hours beforehand. One inspector spoke with people, relatives, staff and health professionals. They also observed care and checked care records, recruitment, training, medicines and management records.
The home supported six working-age adults with autism or Asperger's. Inspectors found that people felt safe, staff knew their needs well and people were supported to make choices, build independence and take part in their community.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This means inspectors found consistently good care and that legal requirements were met. The home had also been rated Good at the previous inspection.
Stable staff team
Staff turnover was very low, so people were supported by staff who knew their needs, abilities and preferences well.
“There was minimal staff turnover which promoted a high continuity of care and support.” from the report
Independence and choice
People were supported to make their own decisions, learn skills and take positive risks. One person progressed to working in a local charity shop without staff support.
“People were supported to take positive risks to meet their personal goals and aspirations.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw friendly, compassionate interactions. People were treated as individuals and had control over their daily routines and personal space.
“We observed staff showing kindness and compassion towards people.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's interests, wishes and goals. Staff supported relationships, family contact, activities and access to the local community.
“People were supported to gain new skills and increase their independence.” from the report
Good oversight
Managers used audits, meetings and action plans to identify issues and improve systems, including changing the pharmacy to improve medicine delivery.
“Effective quality monitoring systems were in place and regular audits and checks supported the registered manager and senior staff to identify concerns promptly to take action to improve the service.” from the report
Future care planning
minorThe home was still developing advanced care plans and planning for people's emotional support when parents died. It was also building staff knowledge about later-life needs.
“The registered manager told us they were looking at these processes as part of their development and journey with the people they support.” from the report
Planned building work
minorA damp report had identified work that was needed in the home. The manager was making themselves available while the work took place.
“For example, a damp report had identified some work was required within the home.” from the report
- 01What advanced care plans are now in place for changing needs and future end-of-life support?
- 02What later-life and dementia training have staff completed since this inspection?
- 03What work was completed after the damp report, and are there any remaining building issues?
- 04How do you make sure medicines arrive on time and errors are identified quickly?
- 05How will my relative be supported to build independence and take positive risks safely?
This inspection looked at the home and the care provided, and gave ratings for all five CQC questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 March 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, March 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe care and improvements in medicines management, with a few minor areas still to review.
This was an announced focused inspection on 31 January 2018. Inspectors checked whether improvements promised after the August 2016 inspection had been made. They looked only at Safe and Well-led.
The previous inspection found that medicines were not always managed safely. This time, prescribed medicines were recorded, unwanted medicines had been disposed of, and inspectors found no gaps in the records they checked. Staff knew how to protect people from abuse, risks were assessed, and staffing levels were sufficient.
The home was also found to be well-led. The registered manager was accessible, staff were supported, and quality checks led to action plans. The overall rating was Good. The other three question ratings came from the previous comprehensive inspection because inspectors found no new concerns requiring them to be checked.
Medicines were better managed
The earlier medicines concerns had been addressed. Records showed medicines were given and disposed of safely, and staff had training and competency checks.
“At this inspection we found medicines were being managed safely.” from the report
Safeguarding and risk planning
Staff understood how to report abuse and whistleblowing concerns. People had individual risk plans covering areas such as fire safety, activities and social media.
“People were protected from the risk of abuse because staff had the knowledge and understanding to safeguard people.” from the report
Enough staff
The report found staffing arrangements were sufficient, including continuous one-to-one support for one person and extra staff when needed.
“People were supported by sufficient staffing levels.” from the report
Accessible management and quality checks
The registered manager and senior staff were available to people and staff. Audits and an annual development plan were used to monitor and improve the home.
“People benefitted from provider quality checks to ensure a consistently good service was being provided.” from the report
Recruitment policy needed review
minorInspectors said the recruitment policy should be revised to explain checks about previous conduct, reasons for leaving care roles and how DBS information would be assessed.
“We discussed with the registered manager that the staff recruitment policy would benefit from some revision” from the report
People were not interviewed
minorInspectors did not speak with people using the service because they were out taking part in activities or declined to speak. This limits the direct views included in this inspection.
“We did not speak with people using the service.” from the report
- 01Have you moved the medicines storage away from the radiator, and how do you check its temperature?
- 02Has the staff recruitment policy been updated to cover previous conduct, reasons for leaving care jobs and DBS information?
- 03How are medicines audits carried out now, and what happens if an error is found?
- 04How will you find out and respond to my relative's views about their care and activities?
- 05What were the ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive at the previous comprehensive inspection?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings carried over from the previous comprehensive inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 30 March 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 Old Dairy
3 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2016GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 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.
Weigh the report against the rest
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38 live-in carers within about an hour of Gloucestershire
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 £1,030 to £1,360 a week. 31 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“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.