• Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Keswick House

Overall: Requires improvement read more about inspection ratings

210-212 Lightwood Road, Longton, Stoke On Trent, Staffordshire, ST3 4JZ (01782) 336656

Provided and run by:
Mr & Mrs A J Bradshaw

All Inspections

16 October 2019

During a routine inspection

About the service

Keswick House is a residential care home that was providing personal and nursing care. The service supports people who have a learning disability.

The service was a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties. It was registered for the support of up to 15 people. 13 people were using the service at the time of the inspection. This is larger than current best practice guidance detailed in Registering the Right Support. The provider had started to work towards meeting best practice guidance and people were encouraged to increase their independence. The staff culture was changing, and they understood the importance of supporting people when they needed it, whilst prompting people to make their own choices. Further improvements were needed to mitigate the impact of the environment on people.

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

The provider’s legal entity was registered with us as a partnership and remained inappropriate at this inspection due to concerns that had been raised about the partnership. Action still needed to be followed to ensure the new company registration continued. Improvements were needed to ensure all systems to monitor the service were effective in identifying and mitigating risks.

Improvements to the environment were ongoing to ensure infection control risk were mitigated and the design reflected the needs of people. Staff knowledge and skills still required further development to ensure people received effective care.

We made a recommendation for the provider to seek guidance on the advance planning of people’s end of life wishes.

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. Improvements were still needed to ensure the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Risks to people’s health and wellbeing were identified and managed to keep people safe. There were enough staff available to provide support in an unrushed way and to meet people’s needs. People were supported with their medicines as prescribed.

People were involved in the planning and preparation of their meals and their nutritional needs were monitored and managed. People were supported to access health professionals and advice received was followed by staff.

People were supported by caring staff who respected people’s choices. People were encouraged to make choices and to increase their independence. People’s privacy was upheld.

The service had started to apply the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. The outcomes for people using the service had started to reflect the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

People received support in line with their preferences and they were involved in the planning and review of their care. Goals were set by people with support from staff to help them achieve a greater independence. People accessed the community and were involved in activities which they enjoyed.

People, relatives and staff were able to approach the registered manager if they had concerns and the registered manager worked in partnership with other agencies.

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 12 July 2019) and there were multiple breaches of regulation. At this inspection the service had made some improvements and there was one remaining breach of regulation. The service remains rated requires improvement.

This service has been in Special Measures since 06 November 2018. During this inspection the provider demonstrated that improvements have been made. The service is no longer rated as inadequate overall or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is no longer in Special Measures.

Why we inspected

This inspection was planned to follow up on the concerns at the last inspection in line with our ‘special measures’ procedures. We needed to check that people were supported safely and whether the provider was meeting the Regulations.

We found improvements had been made. However, there were still improvements needed to ensure people received a good service in all areas of their care. We rated the key questions of Effective and Well led as Requires Improvement. The overall rating is Requires Improvement.

Enforcement

We have identified a breach in relation to ensuring directors are fit and proper persons at this inspection. Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

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.

30 May 2019

During a routine inspection

About the service:

Keswick House is a residential care home that was providing accommodation with personal care. Keswick House accommodates up to 15 people in one adapted building. At the time of the inspection 13 people who had a learning disability were using the service.

We inspected this service within the principles of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. We found that people using the service did not always receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that was appropriate and inclusive for them.

People’s experience of using this service:

People had been placed at risk of continuing harm because staff had not recognised and reported incident of suspected abuse. The provider did not have effective systems in place to learn when things went wrong, this meant areas of poor practice within the service continued.

There was a lack of clear governance within the service and the provider did not have effective systems to consistently assess, monitor and improve the quality of care. This meant that concerns were not identified and rectified by the provider.

The provider did not have a clear plan or system in place to monitor the changes to the culture within the home to ensure they were following the principles of Registering the Right Support.

People were not always supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives. The registered manager lacked knowledge to ensure they supported people in line with legislation. Training received by staff had not always been effective because this was not used to change practice.

People felt cared for and were involved in daily choices about their care. However, improvements were needed to ensure practices promoted a caring and respectful environment.

Risks to people’s health and wellbeing were identified and managed to keep people safe. There were enough staff available to provide support in an unrushed way and to meet people’s needs. People were supported with their medicines as prescribed.

People were involved in the planning and preparation of their meals and their nutritional needs were monitored and managed. People were supported to access health professionals and advice received was followed by staff.

People, relatives and staff were able to approach the registered manager if they had concerns and the registered manager worked in partnership with other agencies.

Rating at last inspection:

Inadequate (report published 18th May 2019)

Why we inspected:

This inspection was planned to follow up on the concerns at the last inspection in line with our ‘special measures’ procedures. We needed to check that people were supported safely and whether the provider was meeting the Regulations.

We found continued concerns during the inspection and there were breaches in regulations. We rated the key question of well led as Inadequate. The key questions Safe, Effective, Caring and Responsive were rated Requires Improvement. The overall rating is Requires Improvement.

Enforcement:

At this inspection, we have identified breaches in relation to safeguarding people from suspected abuse, leadership and governance and ensuring people's consent to care and treatment was in line with legal requirements.

Full information about CQC’s regulatory response to the more serious concerns found in inspections and appeals is added to reports after any representations and appeals have been concluded.

Follow up:

The overall rating for this service is ‘Requires improvement’. However, the rating for well led continues to be ‘Inadequate’ and the service therefore remains in ‘special measures’. This means we will keep the service under review and, if we do not propose to cancel the provider’s registration, we will re-inspect within 6 months to check for significant improvements.

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

6 November 2018

During a routine inspection

This unannounced inspection took place on 6 November 2018. It was prompted by the outcome of a safeguarding investigation which had been carried out by the local authority and the allegation had been substantiated.

At our previous inspection in 16 September 2016 we found the service was good. At this inspection we found a significant deterioration in the quality of care and the overall rating for this service is Inadequate which means it will be in special measures.

Services in special measures will be kept under review and, if we have not taken immediate action to propose to cancel the provider's registration of the service, will be inspected again within six months. The expectation is that providers found to have been providing inadequate care should have made significant improvements within this timeframe. If not enough improvement is made within this timeframe so that there is still a rating of inadequate for any key question or overall, we will take action in line with our enforcement procedures to begin the process of preventing the provider from operating this service. This will lead to cancelling their registration or to varying the terms of their registration within six months if they do not improve. This service will continue to be kept under review and, if needed, could be escalated to urgent enforcement action. Where necessary, another inspection will be conducted within a further six months, and if there is not enough improvement so there is still a rating of inadequate for any key question or overall, we will take action to prevent the provider from operating this service. This will lead to cancelling their registration or to varying the terms of their registration. For adult social care services the maximum time for being in special measures will usually be no more than 12 months. If the service has demonstrated improvements when we inspect it and it is no longer rated as inadequate for any of the five key questions it will no longer be in special measures.

Keswick House is a residential care home registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to 14 people with a learning disability. The house is next door to another of the providers services. At the time of the inspection 14 people were living there. We inspected this service within the principles of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion and promote people with learning disabilities and autism using the service living as ordinary a life as any citizen. We found that the model of care at Keswick House was not supportive of these principles and that people did not have choice and control over their day to day lives.

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.

The provider had not taken action to ensure that people were safeguarded from abuse. They had failed to respond and learn lessons from an incident that had resulted in psychological abuse of some people who used the service. There were still insufficient safely recruited staff to meet people's assessed needs. The provider could not be sure that staff were trained and safe to fulfil their roles.

The service did not always provide care that promoted people's independence as much as they were able. A lack of staff and resources meant that systems and routines had been put in place which prevented people from living as ordinary a life as possible. People did not always receive care that met their individual assessed needs.

People were able to take assessed risks when accessing the community independently and risks associated with health care conditions were minimised through risk assessment. People's medicines were stored and managed safely. Staff followed safe infection control procedures when supporting people to prevent the spread of infection.

The principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) were being followed to ensure that people who lacked the mental capacity to agree to their care at the service were supported to do so.

People had enough food and drink of their liking to maintain a healthy diet. People had access to a range of health care professionals if they became unwell or their needs changed.

There was a complaints procedure. People we spoke with felt able to speak up about any concerns they had. Some people had plans put in place as to how they wished to be cared for at the end of their life.

Staff told us they felt supported and that the management was approachable.

14 September 2016

During a routine inspection

This inspection took place on 14 September 2016 and was unannounced.

Keswick House is a care home for people with learning disabilities or autism spectrum disorder. A maximum of 15 people can use the service. At the time of our visit, 14 people lived in the home.

The service had a registered manager. 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.

Staff understood the risks related to people's physical health and well-being, and followed people’s individual risk assessments to ensure they minimised any identified risks. The registered manager and staff understood and followed the local authority's safeguarding policies and procedures when necessary. Checks to reduce the risks of employing unsuitable staff were carried out prior to staff starting work at the home. Staff received training to help them meet people’s needs effectively.

The provider understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty safeguards and the service complied with these requirements. People had good access to health care professionals when required, and their medicines were administered to them as prescribed.

Whilst there had been staff absences over the summer period, there were enough staff to meet people’s needs. People were supported to attend activities that interested them which included going shopping, to the pub and to other recreational facilities. They enjoyed the food provided and helped with meal planning, preparation and cooking.

People who lived at Keswick House liked the staff who supported them. They felt they lived in a 'family' environment with staff who demonstrated kindness, and who they could have fun with.

The registered manager was open and accessible to both people and staff. There were sufficient informal and formal monitoring systems in place to ensure quality of service was maintained. People and relatives felt at east to raise concerns with staff if they needed to.

10 March 2014

During an inspection looking at part of the service

This inspection was unannounced which meant the provider and the staff did not know we were coming.

At our last inspection on 3 September 2013 we made two compliance actions, one in medication management and one in relation to quality assurance systems. This meant the provider had to make improvements to demonstrate they were fully protecting people using their service in these areas.

We found that suitable and sufficient improvements had been made where we had identified concerns. We saw the provider had put right what was required. This meant the home could demonstrate outcomes for people using the service had improved.

9 September 2013

During a routine inspection

During our inspection we spoke with eight people who used the service, four members of care staff and the registered manager. People told us they were happy with their care. One person told us, 'I want to live here forever. It's good here'. Another person said, "We get to do what we want here. You name it, we do it'.

People told us they could make choices about their care and that the choices they made were respected by the staff.

We saw that staff understood people's needs and people received support from staff in a caring and professional manner. Appropriate checks were made by the provider to ensure that staff were suitable to work with the people who used the service.

People told us they were happy with the food provided, and we saw that people could access suitable amounts of food and drink to keep them well.

We saw that people were not protected from the risks associated with medicines, because appropriate systems were not in place to ensure that medicines were stored and administered as prescribed.

We found that the provider did not have effective systems in place to consistently assess and monitor the quality of the service provided. People were at risk of receiving inappropriate care because of this.

2 November 2012

During a routine inspection

We carried out this inspection as part of our schedule of inspections to check on the care and welfare of people using this service and because concerns had been identified about some aspects of the support people received. The visit was unannounced, which meant that the registered provider and the staff did not know we were coming.

We spoke with four people using this service, one relative, a health and social care professional and two members of staff. People using the service told us they liked living in the home. One person said, 'I've live here a long time. It's perfect". A relative told us they were happy with the care provided.

During our inspection we saw that people were supported to make decisions and there was some evidence they were involved in the planning of their care. We saw that people were treated with care and respect.

We saw that most people were supported to access the community and that appropriate risk management plans were in place to promote independence.

We saw that staff had the required knowledge and skills to provide the level of care that people using the service required.

During our inspection we identified that adequate systems were not in place to assess and monitor the quality of the service. This meant the provider needed to make improvements to meet this regulation.

25 November 2011

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Fourteen people live at Keswick House. When we arrived at 8.30 am four people were up having breakfast others arrived for breakfast until mid morning. Some people told us that they go to bed early, some said they liked to rise later unless they were going out somewhere in the morning.

Although the building comprises two semi houses with links for movement between the buildings, most people gather in one of the main kitchen/dining areas. They were keen to tell us what their plans for the day were.

We were told about a new "Friday Feast" at a church centre nearby, they showed us the menu that included breakfast and scampi and chips. Some said they were going later in the morning when it opened clearly looking forward to the experience.

One person told us about a Medieval Feast they were going to the following week at the famous Bear Inn at Hodnet. They had been before, had asked to go again and booked for several people. They told us about the food and the entertainment that included jousting and dancing.

People were keen to tell us about the many social events and activities they enjoyed in the community. Some recounted holidays they had, one person telling us they had been to France, Tunisia and Tenerife several times.