All inspections: RNIB Kathleen Chambers House

At the time of our inspection there were 38 people living at the home.

People told us they were very happy at the home which was meeting all of their care and support needs. One person said "I am always able to choose the activities I want to do and I really enjoy the daily newspaper readings and the craft afternoons". Another person told us "I am really happy and want to spend the rest of my life here".

We observed that consent was sought by staff before care and treatment was undertaken. We noted that care plans contained information about each person's preferred communication style and the hearing and visual aids they required to support each person when obtaining consent.

We saw that care plans were developed around individual care needs of people and contained risk assessments to ensure that care that was delivered was safe.

We observed that the home had effective systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection. We observed that all areas were clean, tidy and maintained to a good standard.

People told us they enjoyed their meals and there was a wide choice of food available. We observed that people were supported with their nutrition and hydration requirements by staff who were kind, helpful and well known to people at the home.

People told us that staff knew how to care for them appropriately. We noted that in service training, monthly supervision and staff appraisals were in place and were clearly documented.

We spoke with six people who use the service, the registered manager, the deputy manager and two care workers, one who was recently employed. We also spoke with two ancillary staff and the general practitioner who had visited.

One person using the service told us, 'I am involved and enjoy the meetings and activities.' Another couple told us, 'We have been supported by the manager and her staff to make a life change'

We found that there were aids that assisted people to be independent in the service. One person told us, 'There are all sorts of aids to help me; I like the talking notice board.'

The care workers spoken with were positive about their job and told us they were supported had good training and were supervised. One told us, 'I am new here but the training and support has been really good'.

The general practitioner told us. 'The home is very good, people are well cared for.'

We spoke with a couple who had met at the home and they told us, 'The management and staff have been lovely, they have supported our choice'.

The people using the service were asked what care they wanted, when they wanted it and how they wanted it. People spoken with told us, 'I helped write my care plan, they always ask me if it is OK,' Another person told us, 'This is the best place, it has given me back some independence.'

People we spoke with told us they were treated with dignity and respect by staff. People told us staff were patient, kind and considerate when they provided personal care. One person told us 'Staff are really helpful, they treat me with respect and dignity, they don't rush me'.

People told us they were encouraged to keep their independence. Throughout our visit we observed that people were free to walk around the home. People told us they were able to choose how they spend their time.

People who lived in the home told us they were well looked after and staff understood their care needs. One person we spoke with told us 'The girls here are very good' and said staff know how to look after them.

People we spoke with told us they received prompt delivery of care from staff. One person said 'They come quickly from call bells'. Another person said 'If you are not well you are attended to promptly' and said 'they take you to appointments' if you need to go.

People spoken with told us that if they had any concern's they felt they would be listened to and improvements would be made. One person told us they had been given the homes complaint's policy. People told us they felt comfortable to approach the manager if they had a concern.

During our visit we observed staff to be patient, approachable and knowledgeable about people's care needs. One person said 'Staff are so polite, I can't get over it, I have not experienced this before' and then told us 'staff behave like this everyday not just because you are here'. People told us their care needs were met by staff. One person told us they thought there were enough staff to do everything, they worked hard but were not overworked.

People told us they attended residents' meetings every month. This was where they provided feedback on the service and gave ideas for improvement in the home. Some people who lived in the home found this was an open environment where they provided suggestions for improvement and raise any concerns.

These older reports are from our old approaches to inspection, including those from before CQC was created.

Archived: RNIB Kathleen Chambers House

All Inspections

13 January 2014

During a routine inspection

27 February 2013

During a routine inspection

8 November 2011

During a routine inspection

Reports under our old system of regulation