Background to this inspection
Updated
14 April 2016
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.’
This was an unannounced inspection that took place on the 8 March 2016. The inspection team comprised of two adult social care inspectors.
Before this inspection we reviewed the previous inspection report and notifications that we had received from the service.
During this inspection we spoke with three people who used the service, a visiting relative, the registered manager, two senior care staff, two care staff, a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist and the cook.
We looked around all areas of the home, looked at how staff supported people, looked at two people's care records, six medicine records, two staff recruitment files and the training plan. We also looked at food stocks and records about the management of the service.
Updated
14 April 2016
This was an unannounced inspection that took place on 8 March 2016. We last inspected Killelea Residential Care Home on 15 September 2014. At that inspection we found the service was meeting all the regulations that we inspected against.
Killelea Residential Care Home is a large detached building situated approximately one mile from the centre of Bury. It is on a main bus route and not too far from the motorway network. There is ample car parking to the front of the home with well laid out with clear signage and clearly defined parking areas for disabled visitors. Bedroom accommodation is provided on the ground and first floors and access to the first floor is via stairs or a passenger lift. Communal areas of lounges and dining rooms are situated on both floors. There is a small ‘therapy’ kitchen on the first floor for use by staff and people who use the service. The home provides intermediate care and rehabilitation for up to 36 elderly people. The aim of the service is to promote recovery and independence following an illness or accident. There were 18 people using the service at the time of the inspection.
The home had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) who was present on the day of the inspection. 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 found two breaches in the Health and Social Care Act (HSCA) 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulation 2014. We found the premises were not as safe as they should have been because substances hazardous to health were not kept secure. We found medicines that people were self- administering were not stored securely. These breaches placed the health and safety of people who used the service at risk of harm.
You can see what action we have told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.
We found people were cared for by sufficient numbers of safely recruited, suitably skilled and experienced staff. In addition to the care staff people had their care and support needs met by a team of health and social care professionals who were based at the home; known as the Intermediate Care Team. Staff received the essential training and support necessary to enable them to do their job effectively and care for people safely.
The staff we spoke with had a good understanding of the care and support that people required. We saw people looked well cared for and there was enough equipment available to promote people's safety, comfort and independence. Interactions between staff and the people who used the service were warm, friendly and relaxed.
People's care records contained enough information to guide staff on the care and support required. The care records showed that risks to people's health and well-being had been identified, such as the risk of falls, pressure sores and poor nutrition. We saw that plans were in place to help reduce or eliminate the identified risks.
Food stocks were good, people were offered a choice of meal and the meals provided were varied and nutritionally balanced. People told us they enjoyed the meals.
We saw that suitable arrangements were in place to help safeguard people from abuse. Guidance and training was provided for staff on identifying and responding to the signs and allegations of abuse. Staff were able to demonstrate their understanding of the whistle-blowing procedures (the reporting of unsafe and/or poor practice).
We saw that appropriate arrangements were in place to assess whether people were able to consent to their care and treatment. The registered manager was aware of their responsibility under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS); to ensure that people's rights were considered and protected.
All areas of the home were clean and we saw that procedures were in place to prevent and control the spread of infection. Risk assessments were in place for the safety of the premises and systems were in place to deal with any emergency that could affect the provision of care.
We saw that the equipment and services within the home were serviced and maintained in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions. This helps to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everybody living, working and visiting the home.
To help ensure that people received safe and effective care, systems were in place to monitor the quality of the service provided and there were systems in place for receiving, handling and responding appropriately to complaints.