Kensington Care Home

Updated 25 May 2022

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

One inspector a medicines inspector and an Expert by Experience carried out the inspection. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Kensington is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service.

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with four people who used the service, seven care staff and the registered manager. We reviewed a range of records. These included four people’s care records, a variety of records relating to the management of the service, audits and procedures.

After the inspection

We carried out telephone interviews with six relatives and one social worker. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to corroborate evidence found. We looked at more audits, care plans, reports and policies.

Updated 25 May 2022

About the service

Kensington care home is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to 17 older people at the time of our inspection. The service can support up to 64 people in one adapted building over three floors.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

We received positive feedback from people and their relatives who told us they were happy living at Kensington care home and with the care and support they received.

People were supported to have 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. However, some people’s care plans and records relating to best interest decisions didn’t reflect this. We have made a recommendation regarding recording and auditing peoples best interest decisions.

Medicines were administered safely however, some records regarding people’s medicines were not always completed effectively. This was addressed during out inspection.

Infection prevention control practices were in place. All essential visitors had to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Additional cleaning of all areas and frequent touch surfaces was in place and recorded regularly by staff. Training included putting on and taking off PPE, hand hygiene and other COVID-19 related training.

There were systems in place for communicating with people, their relatives and staff regarding peoples care and support. The environment was clean, safe and maintained to a good standard. It was also adapted to meet people’s needs.

Individualised risk assessments were in place to ensure people could take risks safely. Staff were confident about how to raise concerns to safeguard people. Robust recruitment and selection procedures ensured suitable staff were employed.

Rating at last inspection and update

This service was registered with us on 13 October 2020 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about staffing levels and management of medicines. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvement. Please see the effective section of this full report. The provider had taken some action during the inspection to mitigate risks and continued to liaise with the inspector after the inspection to advise of further improvements scheduled and/or carried out

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.