2 October 2018
During a routine inspection
Kingsdown House 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.
Kingsdown House is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to nine people aged between 18 and 65 years, who have a learning disability. The service is situated in a residential area with shops and local amenities within walking distance. People who lived in the service had autism and different levels of communication difficulties.
Kingsdown House was designed, built and registered before registering the right support. Therefore, the service had not been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance.
Although the service had not been originally set up and designed under the Registering the Right Support guidance, they were continuing to develop their practice to meet this guidance and used other best practice to support people. They have applied the values under Registering the Right Support. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.
At the last Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection on 19 April 2016, the service was rated Good. At this inspection, the rating remains Good.
There was a manager at the service. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
Without exception, relatives and people who lived in the service told us staff were consistently very caring and kind towards them. Staff recognised people as individuals and went the extra mile to include them in the service.
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.
Staff encouraged people to actively participate in activities, pursue their interests and to maintain relationships with people who mattered to them. Relatives and visitors were welcomed at the service at any reasonable time.
People received an effective care based on current best practice for people living with autism. Staff knew the people they worked with very well and involved them in decisions about their care and support throughout their interactions, greatly enhancing their quality of life.
Medicines practice was safe. Medicines records were accurately signed with no gaps in recording. Staff had detailed knowledge of the system in place. The environment was well maintained and infection control procedures were adhered to. All required safety checks were completed.
Staff received regular training and were provided with appropriate support and supervision as is necessary to enable them to carry out their duties.
People were protected from the risk of abuse at Kingsdown House. Staff knew what their responsibilities were in relation to keeping people safe from the risk of abuse. Staff recognised the signs of abuse and what to look out for.
There were enough staff to keep people safe. The registered manager had appropriate arrangements in place to ensure there were always enough staff on shift.
The Care Quality Commission is required by law to monitor the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. The provider and staff understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
People received the support they needed to access healthcare services. Each person had an up to date, personalised support plan, which set out how their care and support needs should be met by staff. These were reviewed regularly. People were supported to eat and drink enough to meet their needs.
The registered manager ensured the complaints procedure was made available in an accessible format if people wished to make a complaint.
There was a positive leadership in the service. The service was well led by a registered manager who led by example and had embedded an open and honest culture.
Effective governance systems to monitor performance had been fully embedded into the service.