Dove Valley Mews

Updated 4 March 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

The inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors and an assistant inspector.

Service and service type

Dove Valley Mews 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. Dove Valley Mews 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

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small, and people are often out, and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

Inspection activity started on 24 January 2023 and ended on 6 February 2023. We visited the service on 24 January 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since it registered with CQC. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. 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 used all this information to plan our inspection.

We contacted social care commissioners who help arrange and monitor the care of people living at Dove Valley Mews. We also contacted Healthwatch Barnsley. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We visited all areas of the home and spoke with 3 people using the service. We spoke with 9 members of staff which included, the deputy operations director, the registered manager, the deputy home manager, an acting team leader, an administrator and 4 care staff.

We spoke with 1 visiting professional who was present at the time of inspection.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 2 people's care records and medication records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. We reviewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.

After the inspection

We looked at further records and continued to seek clarification from the registered manager to validate evidence found. We spoke with 2 relatives.

We emailed several healthcare professionals and commissioners about their experience of the care provided and received 4 responses.

Updated 4 March 2023

About the service

Dove Valley Mews is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to 6 people with a learning disability and associated complex needs. The location offers individual and shared accommodation across 3 areas, each of which has separate adapted facilities. At the time of the inspection there were 6 people using the service.

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

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

This provider was able to demonstrate they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.

Overall, people were supported to have 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.

Right Support:

The provider had processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuse. Staff were knowledgeable about safeguarding and knew how to act on concerns. People and their relatives told us they felt safe. One relative commented, “Absolutely yes, the care is safe. Not needed at all to raise any concerns.”

There was a recruitment system to ensure appropriate staff were employed and there were enough staff to support people.

Risks associated with people's care had been identified and assessments were in place to minimise risks occurring. The provider adopted least restrictive practices underpinned by a positive behaviour approach.

The building was well maintained and adapted to meet the individual needs of people living there. However, the timescale for external contractors to address some issues was not always timely. We recommend the provider review their arrangements and contingency plans for works that require more immediate attention.

Right Care:

People received care and support from staff who knew them well and understood their needs and considered their preferences. Staff interacted positively with people and had a caring and respectful approach.

Staff worked in partnership with health professionals to ensure people received the right care and support. One professional commented, “We have regular meetings as professionals and with families/carer’s, they attend our meetings, provide updates and take our advice and recommendations on board.”

Staff understood people’s individual ways of communicating and information was provided in a variety of formats to enable people to be involved in making decisions about their care and support.

Right Culture

The registered manager was keen to continually improve and develop the service. Effective audits and regular monitoring of the quality of support delivered was evidenced at all levels.

Staff told us should they have any concerns about poor practice they would feel confident to raise them and their concerns be acted upon. A staff member told us, “The management team are so approachable. We have a proper team that works well together.” Relatives spoke positively of the staff team and registered manager. One commented, “Absolutely yes, I can talk to the manager/staff about my relative’s care.”

Staff supported people to explore and embrace their identity and provided care that was sensitive to equality and diversity.

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

Rating at last inspection

The service was registered with CQC on 06 September 2019. We inspected the service in July 2020 and looked at the key questions safe and well-led but we did not award a rating at this inspection. 

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.

Recommendations

We have made a recommendation about the completion of repairs.

Follow up

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