Kingfisher House Care Home

Updated 23 February 2022

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.

We received information of concern about visiting arrangements at this service. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider has in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 2 February 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours notice of the inspection.

Updated 23 February 2022

This unannounced inspection took place on 30 January 2018. At the last inspection on 23 and 24 January 2017 there were five breaches of regulations that we have followed up. Three breaches related directly to the care of people. These were that risks were not fully mitigated because of poor assessment, planning and evaluation of risks; records did not always provide an accurate, contemporaneous record and not everyone received the support or adequate monitoring of their dietary needs. We have seen improvements in many areas. This included the other two breaches relating to staffing and management systems known as governance.

Following the last inspection we asked the provider to complete an action plan to show what they would do and by when to improve the service. We also met with the provider to confirm that all our key questions would improve to at least good.

Kingfisher House 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.

Kingfisher House site is purpose built and can accommodate up to 91 people in total. At the time of our visit there were 70 people living at the service. In Kingfisher House, downstairs is for people with personal care needs, commonly known as ‘residential care’ and upstairs is for people requiring nursing care. Next door and part of the registration is Spiller. This is purpose built accommodation for people living with dementia. Again this is split into two units with personal care downstairs and nursing care upstairs. There were 26 people in Spiller on the day of our visit and it can accommodate up to 29 people. Everyone can have access to outside space as there are gardens surrounding the accommodation.

The registered manager was present throughout the inspection visit. 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.

The registered manager was very responsive to feedback given and wanted to improve the service for people where ever they could. We received confirmation of actions taken following our inspection visit. These included the change from domestic showers to health care standard showers so that hot water could be continuously delivered at the correct temperature and not present a risk of scalding. The installation of the domestic showers had been commissioned by the provider and the usage had not been reviewed. This had placed people at potential risk. People had confidence in the management team and found the service to be well led. The management was approachable to people and staff spoke highly of them. There was a desire to drive improvement from monitoring service delivered and acting when matters needed addressing.

People at the service could expect a comfortable, clean and appropriate environment in which to live. People were very complimentary about the catering and food provided. People had access to appropriate healthcare to keep them well. There was a variety and range of activities for people to become involved with should they choose to do so. Relatives and friends could visit people whenever they desired. There were pleasant seating areas both inside and in the gardens.

People’s care records were well kept and the assessments and plans provided staff with clear information on how best to support people. Information about people’s history, likes and dislikes enabled staff to provide personalised care. Care plans had small details such as how people liked their tea served. Risk assessments were known by staff and followed to keep everyone safe. People were consulted and involved with their care. Plans were kept under regular review. Staff understood about choice and enabling people to make decisions for themselves where possible, but also how to support people where they lacked capacity.

Staff were well supported through provision of training to complete their roles effectively and given guidance, support and supervision with appraisals in place.