Darwin House Limited

There was a warm and welcoming atmosphere at Darwin House, where people appeared well cared for and comfortable. A strong, positive culture was evident throughout the service, centred on delivering personalised, person-focused care. Staff consistently treated people with kindness, dignity, and respect, demonstrating a thorough understanding of each individual living at Darwin House.

People were safeguarded from the risk of abuse. The home was clean, and people were protected from the risk and spread of infections. There were enough staff available to assist people to meet their needs in a timely way.

People's needs were assessed, and care delivered in line with best practice. Care plans and supporting documentation included people's individual choices and preferences. Risks in relation to people's care were identified and detailed information about how risks could be mitigated.

Accidents and incidents were recorded and analysed to identify any trends or patterns. This helped to mitigate future risks and ensured lessons were learned.

The provider had a safe recruitment process which assisted them in recruiting suitable staff.

A training plan evidenced staff had received appropriate training to carry out their roles effectively. Competency assessments were also in place for things such as medicine administration.

People were supported to maintain a healthy and balanced diet which included their preferences. 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.

Throughout the inspection we observed staff interacting with people in a caring and considerate way. We saw staff gaining people's consent prior to carrying out care tasks. People we spoke with were complimentary about the care and support they received.

The management team carried out regular audits to ensure the quality of the service was maintained. The management team took appropriate actions to address any issues. People and their relatives had confidence in the management team and felt they were approachable.