Kirklands

Updated 25 October 2019

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.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by an inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Kirklands is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The home had been operating for a number of years but had recently changed ownership. The new provider had not changed the way the home was managed but was reviewing things like policies, procedures and systems as part of their future planning. The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We walked around all areas of the home and spoke with 19 people who used the service and seven relatives about their experiences of the care provided. We met with two directors of the company and a representative of the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We spoke with ten members of staff including the registered manager, an assistant manager, senior care workers, care workers, an activities' organiser, the chef and housekeeping staff.

We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We were sent rosters, staff development data and quality assurance records.

Updated 25 October 2019

Kirklands is a residential care home for up to 40 older people, some of whom may be living with dementia. There has been a recent change of ownership but the home has the same registered manager, management team and staffing. Amendments to policies and procedures were underway.

The home is divided into four distinct areas, each with access to a small kitchen and a lounge/dining area. People have single bedrooms with ensuite facilities. There are suitable shared facilities and a pleasant garden. The home does not provide nursing care.

People’s experience of using this service

People, or their relatives, told us they felt safe and staff had received suitable training about protecting vulnerable adults. Good arrangements were in place to ensure that new members of staff had been suitably vetted and were the right kind of people to work with vulnerable adults. Accidents and incidents were responded to appropriately and their causes analysed.

Staff were appropriately inducted, trained and developed to give the best support possible. Team members understood people's needs and had suitable training and experience in their roles. Staffing rosters were reviewed if people's needs changed. The service employed enough staff by day and night to meet people's needs.

People saw their GP and health specialists when necessary. Medicines were suitably managed with people having reviews of their medicines on a regular basis. Staff took the advice of nurses and consultants. The staff team had good working relationships with local GP surgeries. Nutritional planning was in place and special diets catered for appropriately. People told us they really enjoyed the food provided.

Kirklands was a modern building specially designed to provide accommodation for older people and people living with dementia. The house was warm, clean and comfortable on the day we visited. The home had equipment in place to support care delivery.

The staff team were aware of their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People told us the staff were caring. We observed kind and patient support being provided. Staff supported people in a respectful way. They made sure confidentiality, privacy and dignity were maintained.

Risk assessments and care plans provided detailed guidance for staff in the home. People in the service or their relatives, as appropriate, had influenced the content. The registered manager ensured the plans reflected the person- centred care that was being delivered.

Staff could access specialists if people needed communication tools like sign language or braille.

People told us they enjoyed the activities, interests and hobbies on offer. The home encouraged involvement in local activities.

The service had a quality monitoring system and people were asked their views in a number of different ways. Quality assurance was used to support future planning.

The registered manager understood how to manage concerns or complaints appropriately. She was supported in this by the provider and there was a suitable policy in place.

Records were well organised, easy to access and stored securely. Care plans had been moved to a digital recording system.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection:

The last rating for this service was good (published 24 May 2017). Since this rating was awarded the registered provider of the service has changed. We have used the previous rating to inform our planning and decisions about the rating at this inspection.

Why we inspected:

This inspection was part of our scheduled plan of visiting services to check the safety and quality of care people received.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.