Archived: Kesson House Care Home

Updated 19 September 2020

The inspection

This was a targeted inspection to check specific concerns we had about the management of medicines and infection control risks, people’s care and treatment, people losing weight and poor governance and leadership.

Inspection team

This inspection was completed by two inspectors.

Service and service type

Kesson House Care Home 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 did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that the provider is legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

We gave a short period notice of the inspection to check if anyone had suspected or confirmed COVID 19.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection, including concerns from whistle blowers. We gathered feedback from the local authority safeguarding and commissioning teams. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with four people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with eleven members of staff including the manager, deputy manager, head of quality and care, senior care workers, care workers, a housekeeper and the chef. We reviewed a range of records. This included six people’s care records and multiple medication records.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider . We looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.

Updated 19 September 2020

About the service: Kesson House provides accommodation with personal care to older people, some of whom may be living with dementia. There were 29 people using the service when we inspected. For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

What life is like for people using the service:

By observing, listening and talking to people we found people benefited from a safe and caring service. We often heard staff saying kind things to people and observed that staff were attentive to people’s needs. People told us they experienced safe care.

The care was offered based on policies about Equality, Diversity and Human Rights. Staff worked in partnership with people, health professionals and families.

People told us that staff met their needs with care and were friendly towards them.

Training, policy guidance and safe systems of work continued to minimise the risk of people being exposed to harm.

People’s needs were fully assessed and people’s right to retain independence in their day to day lives was respected. Staff understood how to safeguard people at risk and how to report any concerns they may have.

The individual risks people may face were assessed and the actions to minimise risks were recorded. Care plans had been developed to assist staff to meet people’s needs. The care plans were consistently reviewed and updated.

Incidents and accidents were recorded and checked or investigated by the manager to see what steps could be taken to prevent these happening again.

The premises were adapted to people’s needs to make them dementia friendly, accessible to people with mobility problems and equipment was routinely serviced and maintained.

People, their relatives and health care professionals had the opportunity to share their views about the service.

Complaints made by people or their relatives were taken seriously and thoroughly investigated.

Safe recruitment practices had been followed before staff started working at the service.

Staff had the training, skills, supervision and experience to meet people’s needs.

There were policies and procedures in place for the safe administration of medicines. Staff had been trained to administer medicines safely.

A range of food choices were offered including those that met their cultural needs and people were encouraged by staff to eat healthily.

People had access to GPs and their health and wellbeing was supported by prompt referrals and access to medical care if they became unwell.

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 followed good hygiene practice to minimise the risks from the spread of infection.

The service could continue to run in the event of emergencies arising so that people’s care would continue.

Rating at last comprehensive inspection: Good (report published 09 November 2016).

Why we inspected: This was a comprehensive inspection scheduled based on the previous rating. The inspection was brought forward due to concerns raised by a whistle blower. We found the evidence continued to support a Good rating.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor the service through the information we receive.