Kirkstall Court is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.Kirkstall Court is a purpose built residential home on the main bus route into Leeds City Centre. It provides a specialist service for people with Korsakoff's syndrome which is a brain injury resulting from alcohol misuse. At the time of our inspection there were 36 people living at the home.
This comprehensive inspection took place on 7 and 11 November 2017. The first day of the inspection was unannounced and the second day was announced beforehand. At our previous inspection in August 2015 we rated the service as 'Good' overall but it ‘Required improvement’ to be safe. This was because medicines practice needed to be improved. At this inspection we found the required improvements had been made.
There was a registered manager in place. 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 were confident about how to protect people from harm and what they would do if they had any safeguarding concerns. Risks to people had been assessed and plans put in place to keep risks to a minimum. Lessons were learnt from complaints, safeguarding and incidents to prevent reoccurrence in the future.
There were appropriate systems in place to make sure that people were supported to take medicines safely and as prescribed.
There were sufficient numbers of skilled staff on duty to make sure people’s needs were met. Recruitment procedures ensured that staff were of suitable character and background to work with vulnerable people.
Staff were supported by a comprehensive training programme and supervisions to help them carry out their roles effectively. Staff were led by an open and accessible management team.
The manager and staff were aware of the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). 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.
Where people required support with eating or drinking, this was appropriately provided, taking into account people’s likes and dislikes.
People told us that staff were caring and that their privacy and dignity were respected. People were encouraged to become more independent to support them to return to live in the community.
Care plans provided comprehensive information and showed that individual preferences were taken into account. People’s needs were regularly reviewed and where appropriate, changes were made to the support they received.
People were supported to maintain their health and had access to health services if needed. The service worked well with other professionals to support people's rehabilitation.
People received good care at the end of their lives. Staff had received training in end of life care and were sensitive to the needs of people, their friends and relatives.
There were systems in place to look at the quality of the service provided and action was taken where shortfalls were identified. People had opportunities to make comments about the service and how it could be improved.
The registered manager had good oversight of the service and there was a caring culture. The registered manager had made improvements at the service since they started in post.