We carried out a review of the data available to us about Dene Brook on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Dene Brook, you can give feedback on this service.
Dene Brook is a residential care home providing personal care to adults with a learning disability and who have additional support needs including mental health and autistic spectrum disorders. The service can support up to 14 people. On the day of the inspection there were 11 people living at the service.
We found the following examples of good practice
The provider had continually reviewed their infection prevention and control (IPC) policies. Staff were regularly updated with changes to government guidance and procedures to follow to keep people, staff and visitors safe.
Staff completed IPC training and were observed to be wearing the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) and following best practice. Senior staff were completing ‘Hand Washing Champions’ training with the local authority so they could pass this knowledge onto all other staff.
There were robust visiting protocols in place to ensure the provider was preventing visitors from catching and spreading infections. Visitors needed to take a lateral flow test and were provided with the necessary PPE upon entry to the home. This assured us the provider was facilitating visits for people living in the home in accordance with the current guidance.
Staff were involved in regular COVID-19 testing and the provider made sure they were following the recent legal requirement for all staff and relevant visitors, such as health and social care professionals, to have had the COVID-19 vaccine.
The home was clean and hygienic throughout. Staff had access to cleaning products and cleaning schedules were in place. The registered manager completed infection control audits to ensure the home remained clean and well maintained.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Dene Brook is a residential care home providing personal care to adults with a learning disability and who have additional support needs including mental health and autistic spectrum disorders. The service can support up to 14 people. On the day of the inspection there were 11 people living at the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were safe and protected from avoidable harm. Individual risk assessments were in place. People told us they felt they were kept safe. People's medicines were managed well.
The home was clean and tidy throughout. Positive changes to the environment were seen and further work was underway to continue to improve people’s personal accommodation and communal areas. Correct infection control procedures were followed, and the service had taken additional infection control measures to minimise the risk posed by COVID-19.
There were enough staff to support people and they had been recruited in a way that helped to keep people safe. Staff received appropriate training, support and supervision. The service used a range of audits and monitoring tools to assess the quality and safety of the environment and care provided. These helped the provider and registered manager to identify where improvements were needed to continue to develop the service.
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, 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 providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.
The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture. For example, care plans were individualised and included information about what really mattered to the person. Staff knew people well and supported them to be independent and fulfil their personal goals.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 10 February 2020).
Why we inspected
We received concerns about the management of the service and the support provided to people using the service. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe, effective and well-led only.
We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection.
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 coronavirus and other infection outbreaks effectively.
The overall rating for the service has stayed the same, good. This is based on the findings at this inspection. We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the safe, effective and well led sections of this full report.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Follow up We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
Dene Brook is a residential care home providing personal care to ten adults with a learning disability and who have additional support needs including mental health and autistic spectrum disorders. The service can support up to 14 people.
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
The home is larger than current best practice guidance. However, the size of the service having a negative impact on people was mitigated by the building design fitting into the residential area. The service was also designed to support people in small numbers. The service is made up of small flats. Some of these can accommodate one person while others can accommodation two and three people.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People received care and support in line with their current needs. Support plans in place gave information about people's dietary needs and what assistance they required with nutrition and hydration. The service was designed in a way which met people's needs. However, some parts of the environment required some improvements to make it more homely and person centred. The registered manager had plans in place to address this. People had access to health care professionals as required.
People were safeguarded from the risk of abuse. Staff we spoke with told us they would report any concerns urgently and felt confident they would be dealt with appropriately. Risks associated with people's care and support had been identified and plans put in place to minimise risks occurring. Accident and incidents were monitored to ensure lessons were learned.
There were sufficient staff available to meet people's needs and to support them in line with their preferences. We looked at systems in place to manage medicines and found they were administered as prescribed and stored appropriately.
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.
We observed staff interacting with people who used the service and found they were supportive, caring and understood people's needs. Staff we spoke with explained how they would ensure people's privacy and dignity would be maintained and how they promoted independence.
Support plans were person centred and staff assisted people in line with their preferences and choices. People had access to the community and social activities of their choice. The provider had a complaints procedure in place and we saw a record was maintained to ensure complaints were addressed.
The provider had a system in place to monitor the service. Several audits took place and any issues arising were addressed. Relatives and people who used the service had opportunities to feedback their experience. Staff felt listened to, supported and involved in the service.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 27 July 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
Dene Brook is a 14 bed care home, providing support to adults with learning disabilities and who have additional support needs including mental health needs, autistic spectrum disorders and behaviour which challenges. At the time of the inspection there were 12 people living at the home.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for 'Dene Brook' on our website.
Dene Brook is located in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. It is in its own grounds in a quiet, residential part of the town. Accommodation is provided in discrete flats within the building, with staff based in each flat. Additionally there are central office and meeting facilities, and a craft and activity room.
At the time of our inspection there was 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.
We spoke with staff who were knowledgeable about safeguarding people from abuse. Staff informed us that they received training in this subject and knew what to do if abuse occurred. They were confident their managers would take appropriate actions without delay.
We looked at four recruitment files and found the provider had a safe and effective system in place for employing new staff.
The provider had a safe system in place to manage medicines. People received their medicines as prescribed and medicines were stored appropriately.
We looked at care plans and found that risks associated with people’s care had been identified. Risk assessments were in place to help minimise the risk occurring.
Staff we spoke with told us they received appropriate training to carry out the roles and responsibilities of their job. Training included moving and handling, first aid, health and safety, fire prevention, safeguarding, and food hygiene.
Through our observations and from talking with staff and the registered manager we found the service to be meeting the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Staff confirmed they had received training in this subject.
People were supported to eat and drink enough to maintain a balance diet which met their needs.
People were offered a choice of food at each meal and drinks and snacks were provided throughout the day in line with their preferences and dietary requirements.
Care plans we looked at contained referrals and other documentation which reflected that people had been supported to maintain good health.
We observed staff supporting people and found they were respectful, kind and caring. Staff were knowledgeable about people’s preferences and knew people well.
People who used the service were supported to receive personalised care which met their needs.
Staff we spoke with knew people well and could explain how they supported people. Staff worked well as a team and responded without delay in urgent situations and ensured people received the right support and were kept safe.
The provider had a complaints procedure and people told us they would talk with staff if they were worried about anything. The registered manager kept a log of concerns received and addressed them effectively.
People we spoke with indicated that they knew the registered manager and the rest of the management team well and knew them by name. Staff told us that the management team were supportive and felt they could speak with them openly and honestly.
A range of audits took place to ensure the service was meeting the required standards. Action plans were introduced to ensure issues were dealt with.
People were involved in the service and their views were sought. The provider completed a satisfaction survey every year to ensure people who used the service, their relatives, staff and visiting professionals, could voice their opinion of the service.
Dene Brook is a 14 bed care home, providing care to adults with learning disabilities and who have additional support needs including mental health needs, autistic spectrum disorders and behaviour which challenges. At the time of the inspection there were ten people living at the home.
Dene Brook is located in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. It is in its own grounds in a quiet, residential part of the town. Accommodation is provided in discrete flats within the the building, with staff based in each flat. Additionally there are central office and meeting facilities, and a craft and activity room.
At the time of the inspection the service did not have a registered manager. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
During the inspection people told us, or indicated, that they enjoyed the range of activities available in the home, and staff we spoke with and observed understood people’s needs and preferences well. Staff were able to describe to us how people needed to be supported to ensure they were cared for safely, and the rationale behind this.
We found that staff received a good level of training; the provider’s own records evidenced this, as did the staff we spoke with. Staff within the home, and at other homes managed by the provider, were trained to deliver training in key areas tailored to meeting people’s needs.
Throughout the inspection we saw that staff showed people using the service a high degree of respect and took steps to maintain their privacy and dignity. When we inspected the building with staff, we noted that staff routinely knocked on doors and asked permission of people living at the home in relation to the Inspector viewing their premises.
The provider had effective systems in place to ensure people’s safety. This included staff’s knowledge about safeguarding, and up to date, detailed risk assessments.
Below is a summary of what we found. The summary is based on our observations during the inspection and looking at records.
If you want to see the evidence supporting our summary please read the full report.
Is the service effective?
People's nutritional needs were met. There was guidance in each person's care plan regarding the food and drink they preferred and required. Notes and records indicated that staff were following this guidance.
Below is a summary of what we found. The summary is based on our observations during the inspection, speaking with people using the service, speaking with the staff supporting them and looking at records.
If you want to see the evidence supporting our summary please read the full report.
Is the service safe?
People were treated with respect and dignity by the staff. Staff had received training in relation to safeguarding people who use the service and had followed appropriate steps to ensure people's safety. We identified one issue where a person's risk assessment was not being followed by staff. You can see further details about this in the full report
Systems were in place to make sure that managers and staff learn from events such as accidents and incidents, complaints, concerns, whistleblowing and investigations. This reduces the risks to people and helps the service to continually improve.
Audits took place to ensure that the service was safely run.
Is the service effective?
People's health and care needs were thoroughly assessed, and external healthcare professionals were consulted where required. The guidance of external healthcare professionals was followed to better meet people's needs.
Audits and reviews took place to ensure that care was delivered in a way that met people's needs. We identified that the provider was not making certain, legally required notifications to CQC. You can see further details about this in the full report.
Is the service caring?
People's preferences, interests and plans had been assessed. Staff had supported people to set personal goals in accordance with their aspirations. Care and support had been provided in accordance with people's wishes. One person told us they liked 'everything' about the service.
Is the service responsive?
Staff acted on people's needs and in accordance with their wishes. Where people's needs changed, staff ensured that their support accommodated their changing needs, and care plans were amended to reflect this.
We looked at complaints records and found that they were responded to in a timely manner.
Is the service well-led?
There was a quality assurance system in place, where external staff carried out a quality monitoring programme. This was detailed and thorough.
At the time of the inspection, the home's registered manager had moved to another role, but the provider had failed to formally notify CQC about this.
Care workers said they used appropriate methods of communication to make sure people understood before making decisions. One staff told us, 'Sometimes people tell us what they think we want them to say. Therefore we give people time and avoid the same staff approaching the person when asking for consent or decisions.'
People's needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered in line with their care plan. Before admission to the home an initial needs assessment was carried out by the manager to ensure they were able to meet individual's needs.
People were protected from the risk of abuse because the provider had taken steps to identify the possibility of abuse and prevent abuse from happening. People had information about this in a format they preferred.
The environment was clean and fresh.
Appropriate checks were undertaken before staff were employed. The manager had procedures to follow if staff were found unfit to work in the sector.
The manager and the deputy manager said how their staff had been trained in giving support to people when they wanted to make a complaint. Information to people was in a format that was suitable.