Dene Park House

Updated 20 May 2024

Dene Park House is a residential care home providing nursing and personal care for up to 51 people. The service provides support to younger and older people, some of whom are living with a dementia and/or a physical disability. At the time of the inspection 48 people were living at the home. This assessment began on 3 July 2024 and ended on 4 October 2024. We carried out an unannounced visit to the service on 3 July 2024. We gathered information from people using the service, their relatives, managers, staff and health and social care professionals involved with the service. At the last inspection, we identified breaches in relation to regulation 12, (safe care and treatment) and regulation 17, (good governance). At this assessment we looked at 29 quality statements to check for improvement and found the provider was no longer in breach of regulations. Effective safeguarding procedures were in place. Staff effectively managed risks to people’s personal safety and wellbeing. Equipment to assist people was safe and well maintained. Some areas of the home were in need of redecoration to ensure effective cleaning. Staff followed appropriate infection control procedures. Staff were recruited safely and well supported. Staffing levels and deployment received mixed reviews from people, relatives and staff. Staff were passionate about providing good care outcomes. They worked closely with external professionals to ensure people had safe transitions between services. Person-centred care plans were in place and regularly reviewed. Medicines were better managed, although further improvements were needed to records. Staff encouraged people to be as independent as possible and supported them to do activities, access the community and follow their interests or hobbies. Outcomes of accidents, incidents and complaints were used as learning opportunities. Governance systems were in place and were being used to make improvements at the service.

Updated 20 May 2024

During the visit to the service, an Expert-by-Experience spoke with 16 people who used the service and 9 relatives. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. We spoke with the registered manager and staff on duty. We observed how people were being cared for and supported. Our observations included the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. People told us they felt safe at Dene Park House and with the staff who supported them. They reported staff were “very nice” and were “good” at their jobs. One relative told us, “[Name] is safe enough and happy.” People spoke positively about staff but said that they were often busy and not always able to interact. Most people told us staff provided care in a fairly timely and responsive manner. One relative told us, “They let us know if there is anything wrong.” People found staff treated them with dignity and kindness. One person said, “It’s ok here.” Staff were visible throughout the day. We saw staff were kind, polite and caring towards people but occasionally could be task focused. People and relatives provided mixed views about the menus and variety of food. The provider had identified this issue and improvements were being planned to menus, in consultation with people and their relatives, to be rolled out in the New Year. People said they were involved in care planning and received care appropriate to their needs. People and their relatives knew how to share their views about the service or to make a complaint, and felt confident to do so.