Archived: Kings Court Care Centre

Updated 4 January 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 12 and 14 December 2016 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of one inspector, a nurse Specialist Advisor and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Before the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service. This included the notifications we had received from the provider. Notifications are changes, events or incidents the provider is legally required to tell us about. We also contacted the local authority commissioners of the service to obtain their views.

During our inspection we spent time observing care throughout the service. We spoke to seven people and six relatives. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a specific way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. We also spoke with the registered manager, three registered nurses, four care staff, the chef and the activities co-ordinator. We also contacted three external professionals who had been involved with the people living at the service to obtain their views.

We looked at records, which included seven people’s care records and a sample of the medication administration records. We also viewed five staff recruitment files including their support and training information and at a range of records about how the service was managed.

Updated 4 January 2017

We inspected this service on 12 and 14 December 2016. Kings Court Care Centre provides accommodation and nursing care for up to 60 older people. The service comprises of two floors; ground floor general nursing unit and the top floor for people living with dementia. At the time of our visit 54 people were using the service.

There was 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.

People told us they felt safe at the service. Staff we spoke with understood the appropriate procedure that they would take if they suspected any concerns around people's safety. There were sufficient numbers of staff on each shift to meet people’s needs. Staff records demonstrated the registered manager followed safe recruitment procedures to ensure staff were suitable to work at the home. Staff received appropriate support through induction, training and supervision. Staff we spoke with said they felt able to speak with the management at any time.

People received their medicines as prescribed. Medicines were administered and recorded appropriately. However, we found one medicine was not stored securely. Risks to people’s well-being had been identified, recorded and measures had been put in place to protect people. However, one person was at risk but no action had been taken to manage this risk. We raised this with staff who took immediate action.

People were supported to maintain a balanced diet. People were also supported to access health care professionals when required and their advice was followed.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is required by law to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and report on what we find. Staff and the registered manager understood the MCA and DoLS and the provider followed the legal requirements. The provider had identified through their own internal audits the MCA decision specific assessment was not always clearly documented. There was an action plan in place that specified that the documentation for specific decisions was going to be in place by February 2017.

People were cared for by compassionate staff that enjoyed working with people. The staff treated people with dignity and respect. People were involved in decisions about their support. There were a range of activities on offer for people to participate in if they chose to do so. This included both group and individual activities.

The registered manager ensured quality assurance systems were in place to monitor the quality of care provided and drive improvements within the service. The registered manager and staff promoted open and transparent culture.