We carried out a review of the data available to us about Kings Court Care Centre on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Kings Court Care Centre, you can give feedback on this service.
People's experience of using this service and what we found
We received information raising concerns about how people at the service were being kept safe and reporting of concerns. We found people were safe and concerns were reported as required either internally, or externally as needed, for example, to the local safeguarding team where applicable. The provider had a system that required all accidents being reported via an electronic, internal route to the provider's head office for an additional overview of these.
Staff confirmed they received safeguarding training and told us they were confident to report any concerns. The management team created a culture that promoted an open and transparent approach to raising concerns and staff told us they were encouraged to report any issues and would be supported when doing do.
As part of the government's response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Social Care Taskforce has asked CQC to look at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control.
We found the following examples of good practice in relation to infection control.
People were supported to maintain contact with relatives using technology, or as appropriate window visits and individually risk assessed in person visits, for example, when a person received end of life care. One of the lounges with access to the garden had been converted into a designated visiting pod divided by a transparent plexiglass to aid safety.
There was a system in place to ensure safe admissions to the service, to ensure professionals' visits were safe and the management were aware of zoning and cohorting guidelines.
The provider ensured a sufficient stock of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the staff had infection control training and understood the importance of using PPE. Staff competencies in donning, doffing the PPE and hand hygiene were assessed by a designated infection control champion.
The provider ensured regular testing for Covid-19 took place for both people living at the service and the staff. One staff member told us, "The staff feel more at ease that we are now having three tests in a week."
On the day of our visit the service was clean and free of any unpleasant odours. Staff told us they used disinfectants to ensure frequently touched areas and equipment are cleaned regularly. A staff member said, "We have an amazing bunch of housekeeping staff who always make sure the home is clean."
Further information is in the detailed findings below.
Rating at last inspection and update
The last rating for this service was Good (published 14 November 2019).
Why we inspected
We undertook this targeted inspection to follow up on specific concerns which we had received about the service. The inspection was prompted in response to concerns received about staffing and how people at the service were being kept safe. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.
We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from these concerns. Please see the safe section of this full report.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Kings Court Care Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
Kings Court Care Centre is a care home that provides personal and nursing care for up to 60 older people. The service is provided in accommodation over two floors. At the time of the inspection, 57 people were living at the home.
What life is like for people using this service:
People who used the service and relatives spoke positively and told us they felt safe in the home.
Since our last inspection, improvements had been made to quality assurance, staffing and meeting peoples care needs.
Additional staff had been employed and for people assessed as needing one to one support, this was provided. At the time of our inspection, agency staff were providing the one to one support.
Care records had improved and demonstrated that people received the care they needed.
Staff had received sufficient training to carry out their roles. They demonstrated a good understanding of safeguarding and whistle-blowing and knew how to report concerns.
People were supported to access a range of health care services and regular visits were undertaken by the GP. Healthcare professionals spoke positively and told us they worked extremely well with the care home who responded positively to advice, support and guidance.
People’s dietary needs were assessed, and actions taken when people lost weight or their nutritional needs changed.
Where people’s food and fluid intake, and change of position needed monitoring, records completed were accurate and up to date.
People and relatives were asked for feedback and knew how to complain.
People received care that was kind, thoughtful and respectful. Staff enjoyed working at Kings Court Care Centre and spoke positively of the relationships they had with people who used the service and their relatives.
A range of quality assurance checks were in place to make sure risks were mitigated and improvements were made.
The service met the characteristics of Good in each of the key questions, Safe, Effective, Caring Responsive and Well-led. Therefore, our overall rating for the service after this inspection has improved to Good.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.ork.uk
Rating at last inspection:
Requires Improvement (report published in October 2018).
Why we inspected:
Services rated “requires improvement” are re-inspected within one year of our prior inspection. This inspection was part of our scheduled plan of visiting services to check the safety and quality of care people receive.
Follow up:
We will monitor information received about the service to inform the assessment of the risk profile of the service and to ensure the next planned inspection is scheduled accordingly.
Kings Court Care Centre is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
Kings Court Care Centre accommodates up to 60 people in one adapted building with accommodation two floors.
The service supports older people which includes support for people living with dementia.
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 registered manager was not available during the inspection.
The service was managed by a strong and committed management team who were based at the service. However, the provider did not always support the regsitered manager and staff team in a way that ensured legal requirements were met.
There was a positive atmosphere throughout the inspection. Management and staff were welcoming to the inspection team and spoke openly with inspectors. There was a dedicated staff team working in the service who were passionate about their job and valued the people they supported as unique individuals. However, staffing levels on the first floor of the service meant that people's needs were not always met. This put people at risk as staff did not have time to manage risks effectively.
Staff were caring and treated people with dignity and respect. However, staff did not have time to spend with people and were rushed trying to meet people's physical care needs.
Systems for monitoring and improving the service were not always effective and did not address issues in a timely manner.
People enjoyed the food and drink food and available and people's individual dietary requirements were met.
There was a range of activities available to people which were arranged by an activity coordinator. However, people who remained in their rooms spent long periods on their own and were at risk of social isolation.
Staff were well supported by the management in the service and there was strong teamwork. Staff had access to range of training and development opportunities to ensure they had the skills and knowledge to meet people's needs.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
Care plans were individualised and reflected people's needs. People's diverse needs were recognised and people's rights were protected.
We found three 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.