# The Dales Care Home

*Operated by The Dales (Northwest) Limited.*

The Dales Care Home is a CQC-regulated home-care agency in Wirral.

## CQC Ratings

| Key question | Rating |
| --- | --- |
| Overall | Requires improvement |
| Safe | Requires improvement |
| Effective | Good |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Good |
| Well-led | Requires improvement |

Rating published: 22/03/2022

## Practical info

- Postcode: CH48 5HW
- Registered manager: Connah, Amy
- Local authority: Wirral
- Region: North West
- City: Wirral
- Last CQC check: 22/Mar/2022 - 00:00

## Inspection findings

### Other

- Finding
  - Evidence: No longer in Special Measures following demonstrated improvements
  - Published: 2022-03-22
- Finding
  - Evidence: Good communication with family members; staff feel supported and listened to
  - Published: 2022-03-22
- Finding
  - Evidence: Effective partnership working with healthcare professionals and local systems
  - Published: 2022-03-22
- Finding
  - Evidence: Refurbished, clean and pleasant environment with ongoing maintenance and safety checks
  - Published: 2022-03-22
- Finding
  - Evidence: Effective new safeguarding system; no longer in breach of Regulation 13
  - Published: 2022-03-22
- Finding
  - Evidence: Safe recruitment practices now in place; no longer in breach of Regulation 19
  - Published: 2022-03-22
- Finding
  - Evidence: Improved infection prevention and control, with COVID-19 vaccination requirements met
  - Published: 2022-03-22
- Finding
  - Evidence: Medicines stored, recorded and administered safely with effective checking system
  - Published: 2022-03-22
- Finding
  - Evidence: Improved systems for assessing, recording and mitigating risks in people's care and accommodation
  - Published: 2022-03-22
- Finding
  - Evidence: Person-centred care planning focused on outcomes, needs and risks
  - Published: 2022-03-22
- Finding
  - Evidence: Friendly and relaxed atmosphere with kind, thoughtful interactions between staff and people living at the home
  - Published: 2022-03-22
- **staffing_levels** _(minor)_
  - Evidence: The provider told us that they had struggled to recruit a full staff team. They were making significant use of agency staff to ensure enough staff were present at the home.
  - Published: 2022-03-22
- **other** _(critical)_
  - Evidence: staff were still in the practice of wedging open the fire doors on people's bedrooms. This prevented them from automatically closing and offer people protection in the event of a fire.
  - Published: 2022-03-22
- **safeguarding** _(moderate)_
  - Evidence: One area of the home was accessible to people when it was not safe for them to do so. This was a risk known to staff which had not been addressed.
  - Published: 2022-03-22
- **staff_competency** _(moderate)_
  - Evidence: The provider could not always be assured that agency staff were working at the home safely.
  - Published: 2022-03-22
- **governance** _(moderate)_
  - Evidence: some of the governance systems had not been consistently maintained or had not always been effectively implemented.
  - Published: 2022-03-22
- **governance** _(critical)_
  - Evidence: Systems for assessing and monitoring the quality and safety of the service had not been consistent or always applied effectively.
  - Published: 2022-03-22

### safe

- Finding
  - Learning lessons when things go wrong
  - Published: 2022-03-22
- Finding
  - Preventing and controlling infection
  - Published: 2022-03-22
- Finding
  - Using medicines safely
  - Published: 2022-03-22
- Finding
  - Staffing and recruitment
  - Published: 2022-03-22
- Finding
  - Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuse
  - Published: 2022-03-22
- Finding
  - Assessing risk, safety monitoring and management
  - Published: 2022-03-22

### well_led

- Finding
  - Working in partnership with others
  - Published: 2022-03-22
- Finding
  - Engaging and involving people using the service, the public and staff
  - Published: 2022-03-22
- Finding
  - How the provider understands and acts on the duty of candour
  - Published: 2022-03-22
- Finding
  - Promoting a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empowering
  - Published: 2022-03-22
- Finding
  - Managers and staff being clear about their roles, and understanding quality performance, risks and regulatory requirements
  - Published: 2022-03-22

## Source

Data published by the [Care Quality Commission](https://www.cqc.org.uk/) under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Canonical page: https://homecarecompass.co.uk/agency/1-123001172

HomeCare Compass is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the CQC.