Background to this inspection
Updated
26 November 2022
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 Care Act 2014.
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 two inspectors.
Service and service type
Kirkby House is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
Registered Manager
This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.
Notice of inspection
The inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed all the information we held about the service since it registered with the Commission. We also obtained information about the service from the local authority and local safeguarding teams. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection visit
We spoke with 10 people and 3 family members about their experience of the care provided. We also spoke with the deputy manager, 4 care staff, a housekeeper and cook and area director.
We reviewed a range of records. This included 4 people’s care records and a selection of people’s medication records. We looked at recruitment records for 3 staff members employed since the last inspection. A variety of other records relating to the management of the service, including audits and checks were reviewed.
Updated
26 November 2022
About the service
Kirkby House Care Home provides accommodation and personal care for up to 44 people in one single storey adapted building. At the time of our inspection 31 people were living at the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were protected from the risk of abuse and harm. Risks to people’s health and safety were identified and safely managed. Safe infection, prevention and control measures were followed, and the cleanliness and hygiene of the premises was maintained to a high standard. There was the right amount of suitably skilled and experienced staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. Medicines were managed well, safely administered and recorded accurately. There were systems in place for reporting accidents and incidents and learning from them.
An assessment of people’s needs, and choices was completed and a care plan on how to effectively meet their needs was developed. New staff completed a period of induction and there was an ongoing programme of training and support for all staff relevant to their role and people’s needs. People’s dietary and healthcare needs were understood and met. The design and layout of the premises promoted people’s independence and freedom of movement.
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.
Staff treated people with kindness, respect and compassion and promoted their dignity and independence. Staff were knowledgeable about people and had developed good positive relationships with them. People and relevant others were involved in decisions about the care provided.
People’s care was planned in a personalised way. Care plans clearly set out people’s needs and choices and how they were to be met. Staff had a good understanding of people’s needs and responded to them in a timely way. Staff engaged people in meaningful activities and supported them to maintain important relationships. People and family members were knowledgeable about how to complain or raise a concern should they need to and were confident they would be listened to.
The registered manager understood their role and responsibilities and promoted a culture of learning and improvement. Feedback was consistently positive about the way the service was run. The registered manager and deputy manager were described as friendly, caring and supportive. Regular audits and checks were used effectively to measure and improve the quality and safety of the service. The views of people and others were encouraged, listened to and used to improve the service people received. There was good partnership working across the staff team and with other professionals leading to people receiving good outcomes.
Rating at last inspection and update
The provider had made a change to their registration since the last inspection. This is the first inspection under the providers new registration. The last rating for this service was good (published 6 December 2018).
Why we inspected
This was a planned 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 COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Kirkby House on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.