Dungate Manor

Updated 20 December 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This was a re-inspection of this service to check whether the provider was now meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008; to look at the overall quality of the service and to provide an updated rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 18 September 2017 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of two inspectors and an expert by experience. An expert by experience is someone who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of service.

Before the inspection, we reviewed records held by CQC which included notifications, complaints and any safeguarding concerns. A notification is information about important events which the registered person is required to send us by law. This enabled us to ensure we were addressing potential areas of concern at the inspection. The provider also completed a Provider Information Return (PIR) before our inspection. This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

As part of our inspection we spoke with eight people who lived at the home, three visitors, seven staff, and the registered manager. We also spent time in communal areas observing the support people received and joined people in the dining room for their lunchtime meal.

We reviewed a variety of documents which included the care plans for three people, four staff files, medicines records and other documentation relevant to the management of the home.

Updated 20 December 2017

Dungate Manor provides residential care for up to 39 older people, who may also be living with dementia.

The inspection took place on 18 September 2017 and was unannounced. There were 30 people living at the service at the time of our inspection.

The service had a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. The registered manager had been in post since November 2015.

We last inspected the service on 17 August 2016 where the service was rated as Requires Improvement overall and four breaches of regulations, relating to staffing, consent, infection control and governance were found. Following that inspection, the provider wrote to us and outlined an action plan that detailed how the service would improve. This inspection identified that the provider had taken the action they told us they would and as such the quality of service had significantly improved.

Increased provider presence and investment within the service had secured better outcomes for the people who lived at Dungate Manor. Renovations that improved the safety and suitability of the premises had been positively received.

Staffing levels were now sufficient to meet people’s needs. People told us that staff now had more time to support them in a way that made them feel valued. Appropriate checks were undertaken to ensure suitable staff were employed. Greater emphasis on staff training and mentoring support ensured care staff undertook their roles and responsibilities in line with best practice.

People were safeguarded from the risk of harm because staff understood their roles in protecting them and risks were better identified and managed. New champion positions for infection control and moving and handling were introduced which ensured people received their support in a much safer way.

Staff worked in partnership with other health care professionals to help keep people healthy and well. There were systems in place to ensure people received their medicines as prescribed. People had choice and control over their meals and were supported to maintain good hydration and a balanced diet.

People received personalised care that was responsive to their changing needs. Staff routinely sought people’s consent and now understood the importance of providing care in the least restrictive way. People had regular opportunities to engage in activities that were meaningful to them.

The atmosphere was friendly and welcoming. People had good relationships with the staff that supported them and were actively involved in making decisions about their care. Staff respected people’s privacy staff and dignity and supported them to live their lives as they wished.

The culture within the service was open and positive and people, relatives and professionals respected the management and leadership of the service. People were confident about expressing their feelings and the management team ensured that if people raised issues that they were listened to and acted upon.