CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Dale Residential Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, April 2020
Rated Good overall; inspectors found kind, person-centred care, but safety records and medicines competency checks required improvement.
This was an unannounced inspection on 2 March 2020. The inspector spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and a visiting health professional. They also reviewed care records, medicines records, staff files and management records.
People said they felt safe and were cared for by kind staff. Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, suitable training, good food and effective links with health professionals. People were treated with dignity, involved in decisions and supported to take part in activities.
The safe rating fell from Good to Requires Improvement. Some risk assessments and care plans did not contain all the information needed to keep people safe. There was also no evidence that staff had annual checks of their competence to give medicines.
The overall rating remained Good. Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led were all rated Good. The provider said the required actions about risk information were completed during and after the inspection.
Kind, personal care
People and relatives gave positive feedback about staff. Inspectors found that staff knew people well and provided person-centred care.
“People were cared for by staff who knew them well.” from the report
Enough staff
Inspectors found there were enough staff to provide safe care, and recruitment checks were in place.
“There were enough staff to ensure people received safe care.” from the report
Choice and involvement
People and relatives were involved in care planning and day-to-day decisions. Staff supported people to make choices and remain independent.
“People and their relatives were involved in the assessment and care planning process, to ensure they remained involved in decisions about their care.” from the report
Food and health support
People had choices of food and drink, including special diets when needed. Staff worked with health professionals to support people's health.
“People were happy with the food and drinks on offer.” from the report
Incomplete risk information
seriousSome risk assessments and care plans did not contain all the information staff needed. This included emergency evacuation plans and up-to-date information about choking risks.
“Risks to people's safety and welfare were not always assessed appropriately.” from the report
Medicine competency checks
needs fixingStaff had medicine training, but the home could not show that their competence was checked every year. The manager agreed that the checks were not robust.
“However, there was no evidence staff had their competency checked annually.” from the report
End of life planning
minorNo one was receiving end of life care during the inspection. The home had systems to provide this care, but individual end of life plans were not yet in place.
“End of life care planning was not in place.” from the report
Missing notifications
needs fixingTwo notifications had not been sent to CQC. The manager understood the legal responsibility and said this would not happen again.
“Two notification had not been sent to the CQC.” from the report
- 01Have personal emergency evacuation plans now been completed for everyone who needs help to leave the building?
- 02How do you make sure choking risks and other important care information are kept together and up to date?
- 03When was each staff member last checked as competent to administer medicines, and how often will this be repeated?
- 04How will you record people's wishes and plans for end of life care?
- 05What changes have been made to make sure all required notifications are sent to CQC on time?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions; the Safe rating fell from Good, while the other ratings remained Good from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 April 2020 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, August 2017
The Dale Residential Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some medicines records and audit systems needing attention.
Inspectors carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 13 July 2017. They spoke with people living at the home, a visitor, the provider, the registered manager and staff. They also observed care and meals, and checked care records, medicines records, staff files and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found people were safe, treated with dignity and supported by staff who understood their needs. Care plans were detailed and regularly reviewed, and people had choices about their care, food and activities.
There were a small number of gaps or omissions in medicines records. The registered manager was addressing these through staff meetings and supervision. The quality audit system was also described as dated and was being replaced. The home remained Good, the same overall rating as at the previous inspection on 14 March 2016.
Staff availability
People and relatives said there were enough staff, and inspectors saw call bells answered quickly.
“There is always a member of staff when you need one.” from the report
Respect and dignity
Staff protected people's privacy during personal care and treated people with dignity.
“Staff kept bathroom and bedroom doors closed when providing personal care to people to promote their dignity and privacy.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's histories, preferences and routines. Staff used this information to provide individual support.
“People's support plans were current and contained clear information about their life histories, their likes and dislikes and their specific preferences and choices for how support should be provided to them.” from the report
Food and healthcare
People were offered food choices, including healthy options, and were supported to access healthcare professionals when needed.
“Meals were freshly prepared at the service and healthy eating options were available and included fruit and vegetables.” from the report
Medicines records
needs fixingInspectors found a small number of gaps or omissions in medicines records. The manager had identified these and planned staff meetings and individual supervision to address them.
“The registered manager had identified a small number of gaps or omissions and had arranged a staff meeting and individual supervisions to address this.” from the report
Audit system being replaced
minorChecks were in place, but the audit system was described as dated. A new system was being designed and implemented.
“The quality of the service remained subject to checks and audits to ensure continuous improvement to people's care delivery, although the registered manager had recognised that the audit system was dated and was in the process of designing and implementing a new one.” from the report
Complaints process not tested
minorThe home had a complaints procedure, but no complaints had been received since the previous inspection. Inspectors therefore could not assess how effective the procedure was.
“This meant we were unable to assess the procedure's effectiveness at this time.” from the report
- 01How were the medicines record gaps found at this inspection resolved, and how are records checked now?
- 02Has the new quality audit system replaced the dated system mentioned in the report?
- 03How will you involve my relative and our family in reviewing their care plan?
- 04What activities are available, and how do you support people who choose to stay in their rooms?
- 05How should we raise a complaint, and who will keep us informed of the response?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five quality areas, based on observations, discussions and checks of care, medicines, staff and management records. This explanation was written from the published report of 31 August 2017 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 The Dale Residential Home
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2020Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 29 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
92 live-in carers within about an hour of Doncaster
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. 77 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“Carla has been a god send with the implementation of bringing mum back home from respite care.”
“I can honestly say without Petros I don't believe he would have lived an extra 2 years”
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.