Archived: Kingston House

Updated 12 December 2018

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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This unannounced inspection took place on 10 October 2018 and was undertaken by two inspectors.

Before our inspection a Provider Information Return (PIR) was submitted by the registered manager. This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service: what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

We reviewed information we had received about the service such as notifications. This is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. We also looked at information sent to us from other stakeholders, for example the local authority. We received feedback about the service from two professionals.

During our inspection, we looked at the care records of three people, recruitment records of two staff members and records relating to the management of the service and quality monitoring. We spoke with five people living at the service, one visitor and two relatives. We spoke with five staff including the registered manager and we also observed how staff interacted with people.

Updated 12 December 2018

Kingston House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The service accommodates up to 11 older people, some of whom may be living with dementia related needs.

Kingston House is situated in a quiet residential area and is close to the seafront and amenities. The premises are on two floors with each person having their own individual bedroom and communal areas are available within the service. At the time of our inspection, eight people were using the service.

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.

At our last inspection in April 2016, we rated the service ‘Good’ with the key question ‘Is the service Safe?’ requiring improvement. At this inspection, we found that the service was no longer rated as ‘Good.’

At this inspection we identified breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.

Improvements were needed to ensure that all risks from the environment and to people's health, safety and welfare were effectively assessed and action taken as required.

People’s needs were met by sufficient numbers of staff, however their deployment required review to ensure that people were stimulated and engaged.

The environment required further development to ensure that it was appropriately designed and adapted to meet people’s needs. We have made a recommendation that the service explores current guidance from a reputable source on improving the design and decoration of accommodation and the engagement of people living with dementia.

Care plans had not been reviewed and updated as people’s needs changed and did not reflect peoples’ current support needs. We have made a recommendation that the service consults guidance to further develop the Accessible Information Standard (AIS).

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible, however staff would benefit from additional training to develop their understanding.

End of life planning required further improvement. We have made a recommendation that the service consults a reputable source to further develop end of life planning.

Audits of the service were not being completed to check that the service provided high quality care and that records were up to date.

People were cared for by staff who had been recruited and employed after appropriate checks had been completed. There were systems in place to minimise the risk of infection. Medication was administered safely and by staff who had received training to do so.

People were cared for and supported by staff who knew them well and who had received training to support people to meet their needs. Staff had a good understanding of people’s preferences. People were supported to eat and drink enough to ensure they maintained a balanced diet and referrals to other health professionals were made when required.

Staff, people and their relatives spoke very highly of the registered manager.