All inspections: Kingsmead Lodge - Care Quality Commission

People told us that they felt involved in their care arrangements and were able to comment on the quality of the care they received. One person told us how they had been asked about their care arrangements and the help they needed. People we spoke with told us how they were treated with respect and this was observed by us during our visit.

We looked at a number of care plans and they provided assessment information which identified the person's care needs. There was some inconsistencies around information about the person rather then care needs such as likes and dislikes, personal history, important relations, lifestyle interests. We noted that the care staff had responded well to areas of concern such as weight loss and there was evidence of involvement with other professionals such as the tissue viability nurse to support the home in the treatment of wounds and seeking specialist advice and support.

People told us that they felt safe living in the home and that staff were, "kind and friendly". One person told us they had always been treated in a kind and caring way. Another person said that if they ever had any worries they would talk with one of the staff and, "they would do something about it". Staff we spoke with were able to illustrate an understanding of abuse and their responsibilities about reporting any concerns about possible abuse.

During this review we spoke to twelve people who use the service, three people who were visiting their relatives, ten members of staff, including the manager and the 'acting' regional director, we also spoke to a person who was on site delivering training to staff on the day of our visit.

People told us that they were very happy living at Kingsmead Lodge. They said that staff treated them with respect.

People told us that they experienced good care at the home that staff knew how to support them. People told us that staff knocked on the door before going in to support them with personal care. People said that they have choice to refuse any treatment or care and that their wishes were respected.

People said they were involved in planning their care. People told us that they were registered with a General Practitioner (GP) and that the doctor came to see them when they felt unwell.

We observed staff talking to people about their care in a dignified and informal way.

We observed staff serving a variety of drinks at different times during our visit. We saw that people who use services had a choice of two meals at lunch time and staff were serving people with respect and in a dignified manner

Two people told us how they were able to look after some of their own medicines and were happy to be able to do so. Other people said that they were happy with how their medicines were looked after and were given their medicines as they should be. One person told us that they would ask the staff about their medicines if they needed information.

People we spoke to said that staff treated them well and that their dignity and privacy was well respected. Asked about their overall experience in relation to the staff, one person said "staff are very caring, they help me a lot, especially with my personal care'.

Another person told us; "things are much better here, staff have taken us out recently and they do more things (social activities) with us'. Other comments made about staff included; 'the new manager is a little unorthodox in their approach, I like it, their approach gets things done, the staff seem much happier in their work'.

A third person told us; 'I am happy that I came here to live. You can't fault them (staff), they are all very good."

These are some of the comments we received from people that live at the home, visitors and staff. The comments are also contained in the main body of the report which gives more information and clarity to the context in which they were said.

'I am comfortable here; I don't have to worry about anything'.

'Staff help me and they are kind when they assist'

One person we spoke with said that Kingsmead Lodge was an 'Ok place to live'.

Another person told us 'Staff help me to wash and dress, but I try to do most of it for myself, I want to keep some of my independence'.

We spoke to relatives who were at the home at the time of out visit. The information we were given about the support provided to their relative was mixed. One person told us that they had felt that things had got better at the home, however, another person we spoke with said: 'Standards were slipping again'.

We spoke to a number of people about the food provided at the home. We spoke to people who live at the home and also with two visiting relatives. Comments from people were again mixed. One person who lives at the home described the food as,

'Lousy, it is very institutionalised and not appealing'.

Another person told us that the food is good but that you have to wait a long time as the staff see to the people in bedrooms first. We were told, 'You have to have patience'.

We saw staff going about their duties, we noted that generally staff engaged with people who live in the home in a positive way. We saw staff talking to people and provided reassurance and assistance in a prompt way.

We spoke to four relatives during our visit. One person we spoke to told us,

'There are some really kind staff here, they try their best and work hard, but communication is often poor and messages about my relative don't get passed on'.

There are a number of people who live at Kingsmead Lodge who have a diagnosis of a dementia and people who live at the home have varied methods of communication, some people were able to express their views clearly, others could not. A short observational framework for inspection (SOFI) was undertaken in order to establish for a small number of people, for a short period of time what their experience of living at Kingsmead Lodge is like. The observation took place in the 'Kingfisher' area of the house, this is the part of the home where those who have a diagnosis of dementia live.

Of those people who were able to speak with us there comments included:

'Staff try and do all they can to help'.

'Sometimes I have to wait for staff to help me but they do come in the end'.

' Staff do come and help me when I ask them to'.

'Some staff are kind, they do their best'.

"I try to explain but all they do is come in and start shouting at me', 'If I ask them to help me take off my cardigan, they have no patience, they are rough with me and hurt my neck like this. I cry a lot'.

When we asked people about how they were supported with their medication they told us:

'I looked after my medicines at home but would not be able to now, I'm happy with the nurses looking after them'.

'The nurses give me my medicines, it's fine'

'Nurses look after the medicines. They give one of the medicines if it is needed and that is good'

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

Archived: Kingsmead Lodge

All Inspections

6, 7 September 2012

During a routine inspection

21 July 2011

During an inspection in response to concerns

15, 22 March 2011

During a routine inspection

17 November 2010

During an inspection in response to concerns

Reports under our old system of regulation