All inspections: Kingsclear Nursing and Residential Home

Many of the people at Kingsclear Nursing and Residential Home were unable to tell us about their experiences in a meaningful way. To help us to understand the experiences people have we used our SOFI (Short Observational Framework for Inspection) tool. "SOFI is a specific way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us."

People were treated respectfully and their views were taken in to account by staff. People who could communicate with us in a meaningful way told us staff were caring. Relatives spoken with told us their family members "were treated with dignity and respect".

Risks to people's health and welfare were assessed and care was planned and delivered according to people's needs.

Some infection control practices at the home were unsatisfactory.

People's health and welfare needs were met by staff who had been properly vetted. The quality of the service at the home was monitored frequently and effectively.One person said "The meetings give me an opportunity to discuss any issues I may have. The new manager is very good and listens to what we have to say." One relative spoken with told us "I attend all of the monthly meetings and find them informative and helpful."

A number of the people at the home were unable to communicate with us in a meaningful way. We observed care being given and saw the interactions between the people who use the service and the staff. We saw people responded positively to staff.

We spoke with six people, five of them told us the care at the home was good and that staff were caring. One person said " all of the staff are nice they will do anything for you". Another person said "there are always staff around when you need them". We also spoke with three people's representatives, they told us their relatives were looked after well. We found that a number of improvements had been made since our previous inspection. For example, flooring had been replaced in some areas, redecoration of the home was in process, this meant people were being cared for in a more pleasant environment. Staff had received more training and were receiving regular supervisions. This meant people were being cared for by staff who were supported to deliver care and treatment to an appropriate standard.

We used a number of methods to help us understand the experiences of people using the service that included spending time talking with people and observing staff interaction with people who used the service.

We spoke to ten people who used the service; however, two people were only able to make noises in response to our questions.

Some of the people's responses included 'Staff looked after us well and they are all very kind. ' 'They attend to my personal care in private with the doors closed,' 'The food is good and I get a choice,' and 'Staff are friendly and very kind,' and 'I don't need the staff to do any thing for me as I am able to do most things by myself, but they are friendly and kind.'

We spoke to four relatives and two visiting health care professionals. Some of the things they told us included 'there had been problems earlier in the year in regard to the care being provided, for example, my relative was not having their pads changed often enough as we had found their pads to be wet when we visited. This had much improved in recent months and we were satisfied with the huge improvements made by staff in regard to the quality of care my relative now receives,' and 'there had been a chronic shortage of staff in the last few months, but this has got better. Staff are now listening more to us and our relatives and they seem to be more relaxed.'

People who used the service told us that they were able to make decisions for themselves. Some of the people who used the service told us that they were aware of their care plan, others said that they could not remember.

People who used the service told us that they enjoyed the food, they always have a choice at meal times, and they can choose an alternative from the day's menu. They told us that they could have a drink or snack whenever they asked for it. One person told us that they did not get what they asked for despite telling staff and the chef their likes and dislikes.

They told us that they felt safe living at the service, that staff looked after them well.

People told us that the accommodation was alright. They stated that they liked their bedrooms and having their own things with them.

We were told that there were always enough members of staff available at the service.

Archived: Kingsclear Nursing and Residential Home

All Inspections

30 May 2013

During a routine inspection

12 September 2012

During an inspection looking at part of the service

27 April 2012

During an inspection in response to concerns

12 December 2011

During a routine inspection