CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at The Dower House Nursing Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control measures were protecting people. They found arrangements for visitor screening, safe admissions, protective equipment, testing, cleaning and managing outbreaks.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, October 2020
Targeted inspection, not rated; inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control measures protected people.
The inspection was announced and focused only on infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic. Inspectors looked at how the home managed visitors, admissions, protective equipment, testing, cleaning, social distancing and possible outbreaks.
Inspectors found many measures in place. These included visitor screening, handwashing facilities, safe visiting arrangements, 14-day isolation for new admissions, regular checks for symptoms, staff training and use of protective equipment.
The home also supported contact with families through video calls, newsletters, window visits, garden visits and telephones. Inspectors said they were assured that people were protected from infection.
This was not a full inspection of the home. The service was inspected but not rated, so the report does not give an overall quality rating or ratings for most of the five questions.
Safe family contact
The home planned visits to reduce infection risk and offered several other ways for people to stay in touch with relatives.
“Alternative forms of maintaining social contact were used for friends and relatives.” from the report
Visitor precautions
Visitors were screened for symptoms and temperature, had limited contact with residents and staff, and were given information about infection control.
“All visitors were screened for symptoms of acute respiratory infection before being allowed to enter the home, alongside having their temperatures taken.” from the report
Protective equipment
Staff were observed using protective equipment in line with the guidance described in the report.
“We observed staff to be wearing PPE as per guidelines.” from the report
Outbreak planning
The home had plans for possible outbreaks and had trained staff in different roles to help maintain staffing cover.
“Contingency plans were in place to manage ongoing or future outbreaks or other events effectively.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have your visiting arrangements changed since this inspection?
- 02How do you currently test residents and staff for infections?
- 03What would happen if there were an outbreak in the home now?
- 04How do you support residents who need help to keep in touch with their families?
- 05Can you show us the home's latest full CQC ratings and explain any issues identified in them?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; it was not a full inspection and the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 October 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, November 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with staff supervision still being improved.
This was an unannounced inspection on 10 and 11 September 2019. One inspector spoke with nine people, four relatives and 11 staff. They reviewed care records, medicine records, staff files and the home's management records.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found people were safe, treated with kindness and involved in decisions about their care.
The report describes enough staff, safe medicines systems, good food, access to health professionals and a wide range of activities. End of life care was planned around people's wishes and included support for relatives.
This was the same overall rating as the previous inspection, published in October 2016. The home was not reported as being in special measures, and no breaches of regulation were identified.
Safe staffing
Inspectors found high staffing levels and safe recruitment checks. People and relatives said staff had time to help and talk rather than rushing them.
“There were high levels of staff to meet people's needs and keep them safe.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff were observed treating people warmly and respectfully. People were supported to make choices, remain independent and maintain their privacy.
“We saw a warm and caring approach by staff with positive and kind interactions between staff and people.” from the report
Food and health support
People could choose food and drink when they wanted it, with support based on their needs. Inspectors also found good links with health professionals.
“People were encouraged to maintain a healthy, balanced diet, based on their individual needs.” from the report
Activities and relationships
The home offered varied activities, trips, talks and opportunities to meet local community groups. People and relatives were positive about the choice available.
“The Dower House Nursing Home provided a range of activities enabling people to live fulfilled lives.” from the report
End of life care
People's future wishes were discussed and recorded. The home trained staff in end of life care and offered a private room and support for relatives.
“The Dower House Nursing Home offered bespoke care and support for people at end stage of life (EOL) and to their families.” from the report
Strong management oversight
Managers were visible and approachable. Audits, action plans and meetings were used to monitor quality and make improvements.
“There was a robust and extensive quality assurance system in place to monitor and improve the quality of the home.” from the report
Staff supervision
minorStaff had not always received regular supervision. Inspectors said this had improved since the registered manager had been in post, but families may want to ask how regular support is now provided.
“Staff had not always received regular supervisions however since the registered manager had been in post this had improved.” from the report
- 01How often do staff receive supervision now, and how is this recorded?
- 02How would you assess and meet my relative's specific nursing, health and communication needs?
- 03How are medicines checked, including medicines given only when needed?
- 04What activities would be suitable for my relative's interests, abilities and social needs?
- 05How would you involve our family in advance care planning and end of life decisions?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, with the overall rating and each individual rating assessed as Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 November 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.
Every inspection of The Dower House Nursing Home
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- October 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at The Dower House Nursing Home →
- November 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at The Dower House Nursing Home →
- October 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 21 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.
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26 live-in carers within about an hour of Hampshire
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 £1,020 to £1,260 a week. 23 can care for a couple. 14 years' experience on average.
“I cannot recommend Prisca highly enough, she is one in a million.”
“He stayed with her throughout the pandemic, refusing to visit his own family, who lived nearby, to reduce the risk of infection.”
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.