We carried out a review of the data available to us about Knightswood Care Home on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Knightswood Care Home, you can give feedback on this service.
•COVID-19 questionnaire/risk assessments and temperature checks were completed for any visitors, this helped the home to manage risk.
•Mail/parcels were left in the entrance for three days before opening. This was done to ensure that COVID-19 was not brought into the home on anything that was delivered from outside.
•An air sanitiser was used in communal areas three times a week to help to remove/reduce any germs in the air.
•Seating in communal areas had been reduced in an effort to encourage social distancing.
•The home had a dedicated room for visitors to use when this was allowed. This room had a separate entrance which meant that visitors did not need to go through the home, which reduced risk. The visitors room also had a perspex screen between visitors and residents and the seating was socially distanced.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.
Knightswood Care Home is registered to accommodate up to 27 older people who need help with personal care. On the day of our inspection 24 people were living at the home.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were protected from the risk of abuse and harm by staff who understood how to recognise and respond to any concerns or abuse. Staff continued to be recruited safely. People told us sufficient staff were available to support them. One person said, “Always respond promptly when I need them.” Medicines were managed safely by trained staff. Infection control systems continued to ensure a clean environment.
The registered manager ensured staff received training that met their needs.People received support with their healthcare needs promptly. People were supported maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People told us meal provision provided by the cooks was good. Comments we received confirmed this. One person said, “Food very good especially the cakes that they bake.”
People told us how staff were kind, caring and treated them well. A relative said, “The staff are so caring.” Information about local advocacy services was available, to ensure people could access support to express their views if required.
People's communication needs had been assessed so staff were aware how to understand and talk with them. Activities were provided daily. A new ‘activity co-ordinator’ post had been created and the service were in the process of employing someone.
The management team were clear about their roles and provided care which resulted in good outcomes for people. They worked in partnership with a variety of agencies to ensure people’s health and social needs were met.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at the last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 30 March 2017)
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating
Follow up: The next scheduled inspection will be in keeping with the overall rating. We will continue to monitor information we receive from and about the service. We may inspect sooner if we receive concerning information about the service.
Knightswood Care Home is registered to accommodate up to 27 older people who need help with personal care. On the day of our inspection 23 people were living at the home.
The home had a registered manager in post who was present for our inspection. 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
At the last inspection in October 2014, the service was rated Good. At this inspection, we found the service remained Good.
People were safe because they were supported by staff who understood how to identify and report potential harm and abuse. Staff were aware of any risks to people and what they needed to do to help reduce those risks, such as helping people to move safely around the home.
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.
People were supported by staff who had the skills to meet their needs. Staff had received training relevant to their roles and were supported in their roles by the manager and their colleagues. Checks had been completed on new staff to make sure they were suitable to work at the home.
People received food they enjoyed and were supported to eat and drink enough to keep them healthy. When they needed it, people continued to be supported to access other healthcare professionals to make sure their health needs were met. People's medicines were managed and stored in a safe way, and they had their medicines when they needed them.
People said staff treated them with kindness and compassion and they felt involved in their own care. Staff respected people's dignity and privacy and supported them to keep their independence.People told us they received their care when they needed it and were not kept waiting by staff.
People lived in a home where they felt confident to express themselves and felt comfortable to speak with staff and managers about concerns and issues that affected them. The provider encouraged people and their relatives to give their opinions of the home through surveys and feedback forms.
The registered manager had developed an established and strong staff team. The registered manager and staff had created an environment that was welcoming and friendly and the home's positive values and culture were seen during our inspection. Staff were clear on their roles and spoke about the people they supported with respect.
Systems were in place to monitor and check the quality of care and to make sure the environment was safe.
The inspection was carried out on 29 October 2014 and was unannounced. This meant the service did not know when we were visiting the home. The last inspection of Knightswood took place on 09 May 2013 and was found to be meeting all the regulatory requirements inspected.
Knightswood is a residential care home, which is registered to provide care for 26 adults. On the day of our inspection the home had full occupancy. The home is a large detached property set in its own grounds in the Blackrod area of Bolton. The home is situated close to local amenities and public transport.
The home had a registered manager in post. 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
We looked at three care records and found that these contained clear and concise information to guide care staff about how people’s care needs were to be met, their preferred wishes and likes and dislikes. We saw that the care records had been regularly reviewed and reflected any changes to people’s care needs. The care records inspected showed us that people’s health was monitored and referrals were made to other healthcare professionals as appropriate.
People living at the home told us that staff were kind and caring and that they were well supported by the staff caring for them.
We saw that the home had suitable arrangements in place to help protect people living at the home from the risk of abuse. People living at the home told us they felt safe and well looked after at Knightswood.
Staff were able to demonstrate their understanding of the whistle blowing procedures and they knew what to do if an allegation of abuse was made to them or if they suspected that abuse had occurred. Staff were also able to demonstrate their understanding of the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS); these provide legal safeguards for people who may be unable to manage to make their own decisions.
We spoke with people who lived at the home. Comments received included, “The staff are lovely, they are very kind and caring “. Another person told us, “I am very happy living here, I am well looked after”.
We saw that people were offered a range of activities throughout the week. On the day of our visit an entertainer had been booked for an afternoon’s sing-a-long.
We spoke with a healthcare professional who told us that they thought the home was well managed and that the staff were responsive to any support and advice they offered. They had no concerns about the care people received.
We observed that staff were kind and patient when assisting people, staff responded quickly and efficiently when assistance was required. We saw that people were offered sufficient hydration and nutrition throughout the day.
The home’s complaints procedure was displayed. This provided people with information about how to make a complaint and to whom.
The manager had systems in place to monitor and assess the quality of the service. We saw the manager carried out regular audits of accidents/incidents, medication, falls and care records. We that any risks or shortfalls identified had been followed up and improvements actioned.
We looked at four care records and saw they contained detailed information about the care, support and treatment each person required. This included personal preferences, medical and social background, wound care nutrition and hydration, monitoring charts and input from other professionals such as district nurses, dietician and GPs. We saw the care records had been regularly reviewed and were up to date.
People we spoke with told us: 'It's a lovely place it's clean and the gardens are beautiful'. Another said, 'I have a lovely room'.
We spoke with one visitor who told us they were happy with the care provided to their relative and they had no complaints.
We saw relevant policies and procedures were in place and accessible to staff should they need to refer to them.
We saw staff training was ongoing and included infection control, food hygiene, safeguarding and mental capacity awareness.
'I am very happy with the care and the staff are very good'.
Another said, 'The food is lovely, there is always a good choice'.
One person told us how much she enjoyed the singers that come to the home on Wednesday afternoon.
Another person told us, 'I suggested something the other day to the manager and this was put in place the day after'.
We spoke with relatives who told us, We are very happy with what we have seen so far. The staff are very good, we have no complaints'.