Background to this inspection
Updated
6 February 2016
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check 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 over two day. We arrived unannounced on 11 January 2016 and the inspection was carried out by two inspectors. One inspector returned on 12 January 2016 to complete the inspection.
Before the inspection, we asked the provider to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) and provide us with the contact details for health care professionals involved in people’s care. This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. The PIR was completed and returned to the Care Quality Commission.
We looked at other information sent to us from people who used the service and relatives of people who used the service. We looked at the information we held about the service, which included ‘notifications’ of significant events that affect the health and safety of people who used the service. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. We also contacted social care commissioners that are responsible for funding the people who used the service and asked them for their views about the service.
We spoke with eight people who used the service and four relatives and friends who were visiting their family member or friend. We also spoke with one health care professional who was based at the service and provided the reablement support.
We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI), which is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who used the service. We used SOFI to observe people during the lunch time meal service and in the lounge during the morning.
We spoke with the registered manager, one team co-ordinator, one senior staff, six intermediate care staff and the assistant cook. We looked at the records of six people, which included their assessment of needs, support plans, risk assessments and records relating to their reablement support, where appropriate. We also looked information relating to staff recruitment and training records for of three members of staff, a range of policies and procedures, and information relating to quality assurance.
We asked the registered manager to send us additional information in relation to the management structure of the service, health competency programme completed by staff and copies of the staff meeting. This information was received in a timely manner.
Updated
6 February 2016
This inspection took place on 11 January 2016 and was unannounced. We returned to the service on 12 January 2016 to complete this inspection.
The Kingfisher Assessment Unit @ Preston Lodge is a residential care home for up to 37 people. At the time of our inspection visit 17 people were using the service. The service provides a range of intermediate care and support to people living in Leicester. The aim of the service to help prevent unnecessary admission to hospital or long term care and to support hospital discharges. The ethos of the service is to provide a supportive short stay environment to enable people recovering from ill health or to regain their strength, skills and independence through a programme of reablement techniques in order to return home. In addition the service provides respite care both planned and unplanned and has ‘crisis response beds’ for a period of up to 72 hours where a person is in a crisis in the community and requires 24hour support.
A registered manager was 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 and with the staff that looked after them. Staff were trained in safeguarding (protecting people who use care services from abuse) and knew what to do if they were concerned about the welfare of any of the people who used the service.
People’s care needs were assessed including risks to their health and safety. Support plans were tailored to people’s needs, which included the measures to help promote their reablement to live independently and to keep them safe. ‘Reablement’ is support where a person was assessed as requiring therapeutic support in order to regain strengths and skills after ill health or an accident. Support plans provided staff with clear guidance about people’s needs which were monitored and reviewed regularly.
People were provided with a choice of meals that met their health and cultural dietary needs. People received their medicines at the right time and medicines were stored safely. People had access to health support and referrals were made to relevant health care professionals where there were concerns about people’s health.
Staff were recruited in accordance with the provider’s recruitment procedures and sufficient staff were available to meet people’s needs. Staff provided care through on-going training and support.
The registered manager and staff understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA), and supported people in line with these principles. This included staff seeking consent from people before supporting them. The registered manager sought advice and made appropriate referrals to the local authority when people had been assessed as being deprived of their liberty.
People were involved and made decisions about their care and support needs and how they wish to spend their day. People had opportunities to engage in individual activities reflective of their interests and hobbies.
People told us staff were caring and kind and that they had confidence in them to provide the support they needed. The atmosphere at the service was friendly and warm. We saw staff positively engaging with people, and treated them with dignity and respect.
The registered manager provided effective leadership to the service. Staff spoke positively about the registered manager in relation to the support and training provided. Staff were confident that issues raised with the registered manager would be addressed.
People who used the service and relatives told us if they had any concerns or complaints they would tell the registered manager or the staff. People’s views about the service were regularly sought, along with their visitors, health care professionals and staff as part of monitoring the quality of service provided and to improve the service.
The provider’s quality assurance systems were used effectively to monitor the performance and the service provided. Regular audits and checks were carried out to ensure people’s safety, the premises and the equipment used was well maintained.