Latest Inspection
This is the latest available inspection report for this service, carried out on 9th October 2009. it is an annual review prepared by CQC after examining previous reports and information from the provider. At the time of this report, CQC judged the service to be Excellent.
The inspector made no statutory requirements on the home as a result of this inspection
and there were no outstanding actions from the previous inspection report.
For extracts, read the latest CQC inspection for Dolphin Court.
Annual service review
Name of Service: Dolphin Court The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: three star excellent service A quality rating is our assessment of how well a care home, agency or scheme is meeting the needs of the people who use it. We give a quality rating following a full review of the service. We call this review a ‘key’ inspection We do an annual service review when there has been no key inspection of the service in the last 12 months. It does not involve a visit to the service but is a summary of new information given to us, or collected by us, since the last key inspection or annual service review.
Has this annual service review changed our opinion of the service?
No You should read the last key inspection report for this service to get a full picture of how well outcomes for the people using the service are being met. The date by which we will do a key inspection: Name of inspector: Vicky Dutton Date of this annual service review: 0 8 1 0 2 0 0 9 Annual Service Review Page 1 of 6 Information about the service
Address of service: 179-182 Eastern Esplanade Thorpe Bay Essex SS1 3AA 01702584088 01702589947 LChankee@sda.livability.org.uk www.livability.org.uk Livability Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address:
Name of registered provider(s): Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : physical disability Conditions of registration: Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 17 0 1. The registered person may provide the following category/ies of service only Care Home only Code PC 2. The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is 17 to service users of the following gender Either whose primary care needs on admission to the home are within the following categories Physical disability Code PD Have there been any changes in the ownership, management or the No service’s registration details in the last 12 months? If yes, what have they been: Date of last key inspection: Date of last annual service review (if applicable): Brief description of the service Dolphin Court is registered to provide personal care with accommodation for 17 younger adults who have a physical disability. Dolphin Court was previously registered as part of the John Grooms Association until merging with Shaftesbury on 29th June 2007. The home aims to provide facilities and support to enable residents to move on to independent living or supported housing. Facilities are sited on three floors and a shaft
Annual Service Review Page 2 of 6 lift is available. Accommodation includes 13 single and two double occupancy flats. Each single flat has a bed sitting room and the double flats have a separate bedroom. All flats have a separate bathroom and kitchen. The home has a communal dining room on the ground floor which doubles as the lounge. A conservatory has also been provided to give alternative communal space. There is car parking at the rear of the building. There is a limited decked garden area and summerhouse. The home is situated on Southend sea front, approximately 2 miles from the centre of Southend. There is a local bus service and the home also has its own vehicle for transporting residents. The current rate of fees is £735 per week. Additional charges are made for hairdressing, chiropody, activities, papers/magazines, medical requisites, holidays and transport. Information about the home is made available to prospective residents in the Statement of Purpose and Service Users Guide. The above information about fees was correct at the time of the last key inspection. For current information please contact the home. Annual Service Review Page 3 of 6 Service update since the last key inspection or annual service review:
What did we do for this annual service review? We looked at all the information that we have received, or asked for, since the last key inspection. This included: * The annual quality assurance assessment (AQAA) that was sent to us by the service. The AQAA is a self-assessment tool that providers are required by law to complete. It focuses on how well outcomes are being met for people using the service. It also gives us some numerical information about the service. * Surveys returned to us by people using the service and from other people with an interest in the service. * What the service has told us about things that have happened in the service, these are called notifications and are a legal requirement. * The previous key inspection report. * What other people have told us about the service. * We had a telephone conversation with the manager at Dolphin Court to discuss some specific issues. What has this told us about the service? The last key inspection for this service was 27th November 2007. This was when the 3* rating was made. We undertook an Annual Service Review in October last year and this showed us that the home was still functioning well. This year the home sent us their annual quality assurance assessment (AQAA) when we asked for it. The AQAA was well completed and gave us all the information we asked for. The AQAA told us what improvements have been made in the previous year. Fore example, some people have had the opportunity to say how they want their flats to be redecorated. Other aspects of improving the premises have been carried out such as replacing windows and improving lighting. This shows that the provider is committed to maintaining good standards of accommodation, and continues to offer people personal choice. Other improvements include recruiting further volunteer workers to provide more individual one to one work with people. We looked at the information in the AQAA and our judgement is that overall the home is still providing a good service, and that they know what further improvements they need to make. The previous inspection key inspection report highlighted that the home was very good at seeking peoples views and trying to act on them within given resources. In addition to the AQAA, at the end of last year, the home also sent us in a copy of an audit of peoples views at Dolphin Court. This showed that people continue to be encouraged and offered opportunities to to express their views and influence the service. People living in the home have previously told us that they are pleased with the service Annual Service Review Page 4 of 6 and happy living in the home. As part of this annual service review we sent surveys to ten people living at the home to seek their views. Seven were returned to us. Surveys showed that people are still happy with the service they are receiving. People felt that they were offered choices, could make their own decisions and were well supported by the staff team at Dolphin Court. People made positive comments such as: They give me choice and independence, They look after me well and keep me safe and They treat me like an adult. On surveys people said that they knew how to make a complaint. The AQAA said that since the previous inspection a new simpler and more user friendly format of complaints procedure has been made available to aid peoples understanding. The AQAA said that one complaint had been received in the last 12 months. No concerns have been raised with us (CQC) about the service in the last 12 months. One member of staff returned a survey to us. They were positive about their role and indicated that a good range of training opportunities were provided. From information provided the home has an established team of workers who have worked at the home for some time. The manager said that the home have also built up a good team of bank staff to cover any staff shortages. This will help to provide continuity for residents. When we spoke to the manager they had a good awareness of how the home was functioning, and felt that things were going well. The home continues to let us know about things that have happened since our last key inspection. They have shown that they have managed issues and situations well. They work well with us and have shown us that their service continues to provide very positive outcomes for the people who use it. What are we going to do as a result of this annual service review? We are not going to change our inspection plan, and will do a key inspection by 27th November 2010 Annual Service Review Page 5 of 6 Reader Information
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