We carried out a review of the data available to us about Kimberly West & East Care Centres on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Kimberly West & East Care Centres, you can give feedback on this service.
Kimberly West & East Care Centres is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to 48 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 54 people.
The home was purpose built and accommodated people over three floors in two adjoining buildings. One building is known as Kimberly West, whilst the other is Kimberly East. Both are identical in layout but share a central kitchen and laundry. In addition to long term care, the home provided intermediate and ‘step up’ care. This type of care aims to reduce the number of hospital admissions and enable people to regain their independence and return home.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Before the inspection we received concerns from some people and their relatives that there were not enough staff. Feedback included people waiting for assistance with their personal care, including using the bathroom. During the inspection we did not see any evidence that the service was short staffed. Staff were recruited safely, and the provider used a dependency tool to calculate the number of staff needed.
While staff know people’s needs well there were some minor shortfalls in the written records. Some records did not show people had enough to drink and information within people’s care plans was variable. Some areas were detailed but others did not reflect individual needs. The provider told us that this was due to change from a written recording system to an electronic system
We also observed positive interactions and received positive feedback about the staff being kind and caring. People had a range of social activities available to them. Volunteers were used to help this provision. People’s religious, cultural and spiritual beliefs were known and supported.
People and their relatives knew how to raise a concern or make a complaint.
Staff were aware of their responsibilities to identify and report possible abuse. Staff spoke highly of the training they received. They received a range of training to help them do their job effectively.
There were systems in place to prevent and control infection
People’s medicines were safely managed and administered by registered nurses. Detailed wound treatment plans were in place and records showed effective wound care had been provided. People were supported by a range of health and social care professionals to ensure their wellbeing.
People were supported to have choice and control of their lives. The policies and systems in place supported people in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests.
The buildings were purpose built, in line with best practice guidance.
Staff were passionate about providing good end of life care. Good outcomes for people were given.
There were a range of audits to assess the quality and safety of the service.
The registered manager was supported by a wider management team. Each had their own roles and responsibilities and showed a passion for ensuring people received a good service. There was a commitment to ongoing learning and development and clear networking took place.
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 26 January 2019).
Why we inspected
The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about insufficient numbers of staff and people’s care. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.
Follow up
We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
The service is two nursing homes on one site. Kimberly West opened first in November 2017 and Kimberly East opened in November 2018. Both homes accommodate 27 people over three floors. The services share some facilities such as a kitchen, garden and laundry. At the time of our inspection there were 25 people living in Kimberly West and 26 people living in Kimberly East. Both homes provided ‘intermediate care’. Kimberly East had seven rooms for people to use following a discharge from hospital. This gave people the opportunity to regain their independence before returning home, for example after planned surgery. Kimberly West had eight rooms for people to use as a ‘step up’ from home. These rooms were for people who required additional support or care but not necessarily needing to go into hospital. A short stay in ‘intermediate care’ could help them to regain confidence following a fall, or have additional support following illness.
There was a registered manager in post. 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.
Recruitment procedures were safe with the required pre-employment checks consistently completed. New staff had an induction and then an on-going programme of training to make sure skills and knowledge were kept up to date. Staff were supported by the management. They were able to have supervision meetings to discuss any concerns and identify any further training needed.
People were supported and cared for by sufficient numbers of staff. Staff knew how to keep people safe and had received safeguarding training. Staff we spoke with had good knowledge of the different types of abuse and how to report any concerns.
People’s individual risks had been assessed and suitable care management plans put into place to reduce risks. Risk assessments were reviewed regularly by nursing staff.
People had their medicines as prescribed. There were safe systems in place for the safe storage and administration of medicines. The service used an electronic medicines management system which helped to reduce the risk of errors.
All areas of Kimberly West & East Care Centres were clean and free of odours. Cleaning schedules were in place and staff followed good infection prevention and control practice. There were supplies of personal protective equipment available and we observed staff use it appropriately.
The premises were purpose built and had been fitted with up to date equipment to meet people’s needs such as ceiling tracking hoists. CCTV cameras were installed in all areas and the provider had policies in place to protect people’s privacy.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The polices and systems in the service supported this practice.
People told us and we observed that staff were kind and caring. Dignity was promoted by all staff and people were treated with respect. There was a friendly atmosphere at the service and visitors were welcome with no restrictions.
People had sufficient food and drinks. Mealtimes were unhurried and a social event. Staff sat down with people to offer them support where needed.
People had their own personalised care plan which recorded their needs and gave staff guidance on how to provide care. They were regularly reviewed by the nursing team. The service was in the process of moving to an electronic system of care planning to improve their recording.
We have made one recommendation about people’s monitoring records.
People’s health needs were being met. Where appropriate, a timely referral had been made to various healthcare professionals. People staying in ‘intermediate care’ were supported by a multi-disciplinary team which included a nurse practitioner and therapists.
People had been given the opportunity to record their end of life wishes. The service had supported people at the end of their lives with assistance from healthcare professionals.
People could follow their interests and join in planned activities. There were welfare assistants who led on activity provision in the service and supported people’s well-being. People were supported to access their local community. Where people were not able to get out the provider organised services to come in such as hairdressing and chiropody.
There were regular meetings for people, relatives and staff and minutes were kept. People’s feedback was sought and encouraged. There were suggestion boxes in the foyers where people and relatives could leave comments, anonymously if they wished.
Systems were in place to monitor quality and safety. Where needed, action was taken to make improvements. The provider actively looked to continually improve the service. Complaints were recorded and responded to within the provider’s set timescales.