Kirk House Care Home

Updated 18 February 2020

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 team consisted of one inspector.

Service and service type

Kirk House Care Home 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.

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. The provider was asked to complete a provider information return which coincided with the 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 post inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with five people who used the service and four relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff including the registered manager, clinical lead, care workers, activities co-ordinator and the cook.

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

Updated 18 February 2020

About the service

Kirk House Care Home is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to 29 younger and older people at the time of the inspection. Kirk House Care Home can support up to 35 people across three floors.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

We have made a recommendation about End of Life care planning.

We have made a recommendation about dementia friendly environments.

Kirk House Care Home’s quality assurance systems needed to be developed to ensure they were applied consistently and monitored all aspects of the service, to assure us that appropriate action was always taken.

People were supported by safely recruited staff, who had the skills and knowledge to provide effective support. Staff knew of the risks associated with people's care. People felt safe and were protected from the risk of harm by staff who understood their responsibilities to identify and report any signs of potential abuse. Staff understood people’s risks and how to support them appropriately.

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 home supported this practice.

There were enough, suitably recruited staff to meet people’s needs. Staff received training and ongoing support to meet people’s individual needs. Staff worked closely with health and social care professionals to ensure people received appropriate care to meet their health needs.

People could choose where they wanted to spend their time and could choose to spend time alone should they wish. People had access to a variety of activities and could take part or observe should they wish to. Staff engaged well with people in an unrushed manner and meaningful conversations took place.

People told us they enjoyed the variety of meals on offer and could choose alternative options. People had their dietary needs assessed and planned for which included support from external professionals to support with their needs.

There was a complaints system in place should people or relatives wish to make a complaint and they could be assured they would be dealt with. There were systems in place to capture people’s views on how the service could be improved and these were acted on. Staff felt supported and valued by the management team.

The registered manager and staff promoted a kind and caring environment. People told us the staff always respected their privacy and dignity and provided care in their preferred way. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives, in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 24 October 2018) and there was a breach of Section 33 as there was no registered manager in post. At this inspection a manager had been employed and registered with us, so they were no longer in breach.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

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