Duke's Court Care Home

Updated 11 August 2023

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

This inspection was completed by 2 inspectors and 1 Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Duke's Court Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Duke’s Court Care Home is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make.

We contacted Healthwatch about their views of this service. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We also spoke with care commissioners from the local authority.

We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 8 people who used the service and 11 relatives to ask about their experience of care provided. We also spoke with the senior managers, the registered manager, team leader, maintenance person, the activities co-ordinator, 4 care staff and 1 professional visiting the service. We looked at 6 care files along with a range of medication administration records (MARs). We looked at other records relating to the management of the service including recruitment, supervisions, and systems for monitoring quality and safety.

Updated 11 August 2023

About the service

Duke's Court Care Home is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 60 people. The service provides support to older people, some of whom may be living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 53 people using the service.

The home is set out across 3 floors which can be accessed via lifts. Each floor has a communal lounge and dining room and all rooms have private en-suite facilities.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Since our last inspection, improvements had been made to the quality of care people received. Quality assurance systems had improved and these had been embedded into the practice of the service. The registered manager and provider had oversight of the service and worked together to continually improve the quality and safety of the service.

The registered manager was supported by a senior management team as well as senior staff within the home to maintain safety and provide people with a calm, happy home to live in. The registered manager understood and adhered to the regulatory requirements of their role.

People were protected from the risk of abuse and neglect. Risks to people’s health and safety were appropriately assessed, monitored and acted on. There were enough suitably skilled and experienced staff to keep people safe. Medicines were well managed. The home was clean and tidy, and measures had been taken to reduce the risk of the spread of infection. Learning from accidents and incidents took place to prevent recurrence.

People received care from staff in accordance with their assessed needs whilst protecting their rights and freedoms. Staff were well trained and supervised. People were supported to follow a balanced and healthy diet.

Staff supported people to receive external healthcare when needed. When health and social care professionals came to the home to review people’s care; their advice and guidance were followed by staff. The home was well maintained and appropriate for people's needs.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 15 July 2022). The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve.

At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good based on the findings of this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Duke's Court Care Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.