Kingland House Residential Home

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

Safe – this means we looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The service had a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. They listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice. People and their relatives told us staff were open and transparent with them. Relatives told us they had received various calls from the service if a significant event occurred. Incidents within the service, were recorded, and discussed to prevent reoccurrence. Staff told us about the actions they took in real life recent events. Accidents, incidents and events were recorded on the provider’s electronic systems. The registered manager was informed of each incident and undertook monthly reviews to identify trends.

The service worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed or monitored. They made sure there was continuity of care, including when people moved between different services. People felt confident their needs would be met by staff and information would be shared to promote seamless care. Information about medical professionals was included within people’s care plans. Staff told us information was available to them if they needed to speak with external professionals. This included, if a person had gone to hospital or moved to a new care service. People’s needs, and care requirements were detailed within their care plans and risk assessments on the electronic system. A summary sheet was available if the person went into hospital or moved to another care home, this promoted continuity of care for people.

The service worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. They concentrated on improving people’s lives while protecting their right to live in safety, free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm and neglect. The service shared concerns quickly and appropriately. People told us they were safe and happy living at the service. One person said, “I am really happy and have never thought of feeling unsafe.” Staff had received training in safeguarding adults, they told us how they would raise concerns and were confident the registered manager would act immediately with the information. Safeguarding procedures were in place to ensure people were protected from avoidable harm. Safeguarding was a topic for discussion, not only during annual training but within all staff meetings. Posters displayed within the service reminded people of contact details for reporting concerns. Records showed safeguarding referrals had been made as necessary and this included notifying CQC of certain events as required by law. All legal applications had been made in accordance with DoLS, this meant people’s rights were fully respected. The registered manager had oversight of DoLS applications, authorisations, and conditions and used records to ensure all documentation was in date.

The service worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. They provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them. People told us they felt safe in their environment. Relatives agreed they had no concerns about safety within the service. Risks to people’s wellbeing and safety had been identified, assessed and measures put in place to reduce them. Records detailed how staff should work to ensure safety, especially about supporting people to move around the home using equipment. Environmental and general risk assessments were in place which considered people’s individual needs within the communal environment such as staircases and fire safety.

The service detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care. People and their relatives were complimentary about the service describing it as homely and having a family feel. The registered manager told us there was an ongoing programme of redecoration and refurbishment. Equipment and utility checks were in place and closely monitored to promote safety. A dedicated staff member was responsible for maintenance within the service and undertook comprehensive checks. An additional member had been employed to compliment the team ensuring checks were completed. There was a programme of works and reminders of expiry dates. The service used external specialists and contractors to undertake some checks particularly where there was need for a specialism, such as gas and fire safety.

The service made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. They worked together well to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs. People told us staff were there when they needed them. A person told us, “You press that bell, and staff come running.” People and their relatives told us they believed there was enough staff on duty. They told us they thought staff were skilled and had received sufficient training to support them with their needs. Staff received training and support to ensure they could carry out their role effectively. A relative told us, “Staff are kind, friendly, professional. I have nothing but praise and thank yous. They do a fantastic job.” Staff told us they felt supported fully by the registered manager and management team. Formal supervisions were carried out and staff told us they could access support at any time. We observed the home to be calm and relaxed. Staff were busy and the number of staff were in accordance with the plan for the day. There was a process in place to measure people’s dependency and need which had informed staffing levels within the service. Staff were recruited safely, and recruitment records reflected this. Procedures were in place to ensure the required checks were carried out on staff before they commenced their employment. This included enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for adults. DBS checks provide information including details about convictions and cautions held on the police national computer. The information helps employers make safer recruitment decisions. Staff learning and development was in place to ensure staff were properly inducted into the service and their knowledge developed. The registered manager and management team had oversight of training within the service.

The service assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly. People and their relatives told us the service was clean and tidy, this included people’s own bedrooms which were cleaned daily. Staff received training in infection prevention and control. Dedicated staff ensured the home was clean, they worked to agreed schedules. We observed the service to be clean and hygienic, this was mentioned positively to us by each person and their relatives. A relative told us, “The home is immaculate, so clean and well kept.” Personal protective equipment (PPE) was worn appropriately by staff. Safe infection prevention and control procedures were in place, and this underpinned practices within the service. Infection control procedures and audits were in line with good practice guidance. Staff had plentiful supplies of cleaning materials, products, and PPE.

The service made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. They involved people in planning, including when changes happened. People received their medicines as prescribed. There were safe processes in place for ordering, storage, administration and disposal of medicines. Staff who were responsible for giving people medicines were trained and had their competency assessed. Staff told us they worked well as a team to ensure medicines were safe. A robust programme of checks was in place to support safety. The provider’s electronic medicines system contained accurate recordings including stock counts. The registered manager and management team had oversight of the system. Medicines were stored at safe temperatures and checks were in place to ensure this was maintained. Guidance supported staff to ensure medicines taken occasionally were given in a consistent way. Medicines which required stricter controls were monitored and correct control measures were in place. Audits and checks were in place to ensure compliance, this included a recent external audit where the auditor stated, ‘I have full confidence in the care home’s ability to uphold the highest standards and to provide optimal medicines management.’