CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Dunes
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, October 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with no breaches reported.
Inspectors visited on 29 and 30 August 2019. They spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and a healthcare professional. They observed care and checked care plans, medicine records, staff files and management records.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe medicines practice, personalised support and respectful care. People were supported to make choices, build independence and take part in activities they enjoyed.
The home used some restrictive interventions, but inspectors said these were used only as a last resort and in a person-centred way. The home did not have a CQC-registered manager at the visit, although the manager had started the application process.
The previous inspection was also rated Good. CQC said it would continue monitoring information received about the home and could inspect sooner if concerns arose.
Safe staffing and risk support
There were enough staff, including a stable team who knew the people living at the home. Risks were assessed in detail and staff aimed to reduce them without unnecessary restrictions.
“There were enough staff to keep people safe and meet people's individual needs.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People were treated with patience, dignity and respect. Staff supported people to communicate, make everyday choices and spend time privately.
“Staff interacted with people in a consistently kind and caring way.” from the report
Choice and independence
Support focused on helping people gain skills and become more independent. People helped shape meals, bedrooms, activities and parts of the garden.
“People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.” from the report
Good activities and relationships
People took part in activities suited to their interests and abilities, both at home and in the community. Staff helped people keep in touch with relatives and friends.
“People's desire to socialise and participate in meaningful activity was met through a varied range of activities tailored to their tastes and abilities.” from the report
Open management and checks
Staff said they felt supported and able to speak freely. Regular audits, meetings and feedback helped the home identify and follow up improvements.
“A range of audits and checks helped ensure service quality was maintained and areas for improvement identified.” from the report
No registered manager at the visit
minorThe home did not have a manager registered with CQC when inspectors visited. The manager had been in post for two weeks and had started the registration application.
“The service did not have a manager registered with the CQC.” from the report
End of life plans still developing
minorNo one at the home needed end of life care during the inspection. The home had begun creating easy-read plans but said this area needed further development.
“The manager and quality improvement lead said this was an area they intended to develop further.” from the report
- 01Has the manager's application to register with CQC been completed, and who is legally responsible for the home while this is being processed?
- 02What restrictive interventions might be used for my relative, in what circumstances, and how would their use be reviewed?
- 03How will my relative's care plan support their communication needs, choices and independence?
- 04What activities and community opportunities would be available for my relative, based on their interests?
- 05How are end of life wishes recorded and reviewed, and what further development has taken place since this inspection?
This was a planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the premises and care provided; all five ratings were Good and the previous inspection was also Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 2 October 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 2017
The Dunes was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care with strong management.
This was an unannounced inspection of a small care home for up to four adults with learning disabilities. Three people lived there. Inspectors spoke with people living at the home, family members and staff. They also reviewed care plans, medicines, staffing, complaints, incidents and quality records, and observed care.
Inspectors found that people felt safe and were supported by staff who understood their needs. Medicines were managed safely. Staff used positive strategies to reduce anxiety and, in one case, this reduced the use of medicines for anxiety. People received suitable food, healthcare support and help to communicate.
Care was kind, respectful and tailored to each person. People helped shape their care plans, activities and meals. The home had an open culture, regular checks and a clear management structure. All five areas were rated Good, and the previous inspection in July 2013 had found no concerns.
Managing anxiety safely
Staff followed detailed guidance to recognise triggers, calm people and reduce risks. Positive behavioural strategies had reduced the use of medicines for anxiety.
“This meant that people were not over medicated as they only took PRN medicines when all other interventions had not been effective.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans reflected people's routines, communication, preferences and needs. People were involved in reviewing their care and choosing activities.
“People received personalised care and support. Staff demonstrated a detailed awareness of people's individual needs.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people well and adapted how they communicated. Inspectors found that privacy, dignity and personal choices were respected.
“People were cared for with kindness and compassion. Staff knew the people they supported and interacted positively when supporting them.” from the report
Good communication support
The home used communication dictionaries, picture materials and Makaton training to help people express their choices and needs.
“Each person had a 'Communication dictionary'. This was a document staff had developed with people to detail their communication strategies and promote communication between people and staff.” from the report
Open management
Families could contact the manager, and staff felt able to raise concerns. Audits and reviews were used to identify improvements.
“There was an open and transparent culture within the home.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you review staffing levels if the unoccupied bedroom was filled?
- 02How do you identify what causes my relative's anxiety, and what calming strategies would you use before considering as-needed medicine?
- 03How would you support my relative to communicate choices if they do not use speech?
- 04How often would my relative and their family be involved in reviewing the care plan?
- 05What activities and community opportunities could be arranged around my relative's interests?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions and the overall quality of the home. This explanation was written from the published report of 10 March 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 Dunes
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- October 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2017GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 24 November 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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37 live-in carers within about an hour of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
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 £1,000 to £1,340 a week. 26 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“We could not have managed without her calm, reassuring presence and practical knowledge and skill in caring and supporting both my husband and the family and I.”
“I cannot recommend Prisca highly enough, she is one in a million.”
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.