Kirkstall Lodge

Updated 25 June 2019

The inspection.

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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.

Inspection team:

One inspector carried out this inspection.

Service and service type.

Kirkstall Lodge 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 site visit took place on 31 May 2019 and was unannounced.

What we did:

Before our inspection visit, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). 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 also reviewed information we held about the service in the form of statutory notifications received from the service and any safeguarding or whistleblowing incidents, which may have occurred. A statutory notification is information about important events, which the provider is required to send us by law.

We spoke with four people living at Kirkstall Lodge. We also spent time in the communal areas observing the care and support people received to understand the experiences of people. In addition, we spoke with the registered manager and three care staff. Following the inspection site visit we spoke with three relatives by telephone and with two external health and social service providers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included care records, staff files, recruitment records and policies and procedures relating to the care of people living in the home.

Updated 25 June 2019

About the service:

Kirkstall Lodge is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to five people with a learning disability. At the time of our visit five people were living in the home.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People’s experience of using this service:

People received safe care and support as the staff team had been trained to recognise signs of abuse or risk and understood what to do to safely support people. A positive approach to risk taking was followed to ensure people’s independence was maintained. Staff were aware of their responsibilities in safeguarding people from abuse and had developed open and trusting relationships with people.

People received safe support with their medicines by staff who had received training and who had been assessed as competent. There were systems in place to respond to any medicine errors and regular checks were carried out to ensure that people were receiving the right medicine at the right time.

The provider supported staff in providing effective care for people through person-centred care planning, training and supervision. People were promptly referred to additional healthcare services when required.

Staff members followed effective infection prevention and control procedures. When risks to people’s health and welfare were identified, the provider acted to minimise the likelihood of occurrence.

The provider followed safe recruitment practices when employing new staff members. People were supported by staff who received training, supervision and support to help them undertake their role. Staff understood people's needs and provided them with the care and support they needed. People were supported to maintain a healthy diet and had choice regarding the food and drinks they consumed.

People accessed health and social care professionals when required. Staff understood and supported people in line with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. People gave consent to care and treatment. Those who were unable to make decisions about their own care received appropriate support to do so. 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 service supported this practice.

People received help and support from a kind and compassionate staff team with whom they had developed positive relationships. People were supported by staff members who were aware of their individual protected characteristics like age and gender and disability. People had choice and control over their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. Policies and systems supported this practice.

People received a personalised service and were involved in developing their care plans. Staff knew people’s life histories, preferences and routines. Activities were based around people’s choices and people were supported to take part in the running of their home. There was a positive culture where people, staff and relatives felt listened to. The registered manager felt supported by the provider and this flowed through the service.

People were provided with information in a way they could understand. The provider had systems in place to encourage and respond to any complaints or compliments from people or those close to them. There was regular involvement by families and relatives and external services such as community nursing and social work services were consulted with regard to the support and care of people.

The provider understood the requirements of their registration with the Care Quality Commission and was meeting the legal requirements. The provider had effective systems to monitor the quality of the service they provided and to drive improvements where needed. The provider had good links with the local community which people benefited from.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected 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.

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 9 March 2017.)

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.