During an assessment under our new approach
About the service
Kolbe House is a ‘care home’ without nursing for up to 25 older people. There were 15 people living at the service at the time of our inspection. Kolbe House is run by a charitable organisation with a management committee that has oversight of the home and the care provided.
Who the service is for
Kolbe House is a residential care home for older people predominantly from the Polish community. The registered manager, deputy manager and staff spoke Polish. People were supported to maintain their links to the Polish community and culture.
Key findings
We carried out this assessment between 10 July 2026 and 5 August 2026. This service was previously rated as good. We carried out this assessment to confirm whether the rating of good remains accurate. This report does not provide detailed information on areas where we found practice continues to meet a good standard. Instead, our findings focus on any areas where the service needs to improve or where we found exceptional practice.
People can only be deprived of their liberty to receive care and treatment with appropriate legal authority. In care homes, this can be done through a procedure called the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), which is part of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). We checked whether the service was working within the principles of the MCA and how they managed DoLS within the service. We found that staff and management worked within the MCA principles. DoLS authorisations were appropriately applied for and overseen. People were not subject to unlawful or excessive restrictions, and they had choice, control and freedom over their lives.
Staff confirmed they had completed training on how the MCA affects the care and support provided to people. A staff member told us, “We always assume that a person has the capacity to make decisions until otherwise stated, we support them in making their own decisions, and we always act in their best interests when they are unable to decide on their own.”
Following an incident, accident or complaint an investigation was completed and the outcomes were shared with staff to identify any improvements which could be implemented. The provider followed processes to identify and report any safeguarding concerns to protect people from the risk of abuse. Staff confirmed they had completed training on safeguarding adults and children and demonstrated their understanding of how to protect people from the risk of abuse. Medicines were administered as prescribed and were managed safely. Staff told us they felt confident when they supported people with their medicines. Risks were identified and staff were provided with guidance on how to manage potential risks. The provider had a robust recruitment process, and staff were supported with regular supervision and team meetings. Staff told us they felt supported by senior staff and able to raise any questions with them. A staff member said, “[Senior staff] apply the ‘open door’ principle, you can always come to them with a question or problem, as well as talk on an ongoing basis during shared meals.”
Regular checks were carried out to ensure the environment of the home was safe. People’s support needs were identified, with care plans and risk assessments being regularly reviewed to ensure they reflected people’s current care needs. Staff completed a range of training
We saw staff provided care in a kind, caring and respectful manner. Staff understood people’s needs, preferences and wishes in relation to their care. Staff told us they supported people to be as independent as possible and make choices about their daily lives. A staff member commented, “I adapt the way I communicate to the way the person understands. I ask what is important to them, what makes them feel safe and comfortable. I support and respect the decisions made by the person, even if the choices are ill-considered.”
People were supported with their religious, cultural and spiritual needs with staff using people’s preferred language, providing the culturally appropriate meals they enjoyed and arranging visits to meet their religious needs.
Staff told us they felt the home was well managed and there was a shared culture of openness, kindness and support. A staff member told us, “The best thing about working at Kolbe House is that there is a real homely atmosphere. Residents feel at home here, they are treated with respect, kindness and care. I am glad that I can be part of a place where we care not only for the care needs of residents, but also for their well-being and sense of security.”
The provider had a range of audits in place to monitor the quality of the care provided. A healthcare professional, who worked closely with the home, told us, “The management and staff have been consistently professional, warm and supportive. Their communication is excellent. The staff demonstrate a deep knowledge of their residents. Information sharing is consistent and reliable which provided great reassurance that safe, person-centred care is delivered.”