30 June 2015
During a routine inspection
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 30 June 2015.
Dorothy Terry House is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for a maximum of 15 people. There were 11 people living at the home on the day of the inspection. People were living within their own flats in a newly built complex.
There was no registered manager in place at the time of our inspection. The manager who had been in post since November 2014 had recently applied to become registered and was going through the process. 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.
At our last inspection in June 2014 we found the provider was not meeting the regulations in relation to the management of medicines. Following the inspection in June 2014 the provider sent us an action plan telling us about the improvements they had made to meet the regulation. We found that these improvements had been made. People’s medicines were managed safely and suitable storage was in place.
People who lived at the home said they felt safe living there and told us that they liked the staff. Staff were respectful and upheld people’s privacy and dignity. Staff demonstrated an understanding of the actions they would need to take if they witnessed or suspected abuse.
People were supported by staff who had received training to make sure they had the skills and knowledge needed to care for them. Staff knew about people’s care needs and the risks associated with their care. People’s care was regularly reviewed. Sufficient staff were on duty to meet people’s needs and people were able to maintain their interests and hobbies.
People told us they liked the food and were support to drink sufficient fluid. The atmosphere in the home was relaxed and friendly.
Care was provided with people’s consent or following the application of suitable arrangements for decisions to be made. People had access to doctors when needed although some people were not able to access a dentist.
People were aware of their right to complain about the service provided. Systems were in place to monitor the quality of the service.