Thomas Knight Care Home

We found the following examples of good practice.

Staff had good knowledge of infection prevention and control (IPC), and knew how to put on, take off and dispose of PPE in a safe way. They were following current guidance in relation to testing for COVID-19.

Face masks and hand sanitiser were available in the foyer for visitors to use. There was also a supply of lateral flow device tests if visitors chose to use them.

COVID-19 risk assessments were in place where appropriate. The premises was clean and hygienic. PPE was stored appropriately and safely.

People were supported to maintain contact with family and friends. Some people were going out and about in the local community. Relatives we spoke with said they were happy with how visiting was being managed.

Thomas Knight Care Home is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to up to 54 people, some of who are living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 47 people using the service. The care home accommodates people across three separate floors, with communal lounges and dining areas located on each floor.

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

People told us they felt safe and well cared for. Comments included, “It’s very good here, when I was at home I was falling out of bed and this is so much safer” and “It’s lovely, I can tell you, the girls are wonderful, they take me out.”

There were inconsistencies with how mental capacity assessments and best interest decisions were documented. Some mental capacity assessments were not decision specific. Some best interest forms did not identify the decision made and how this had been achieved. We have made a recommendation about this.

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. People’s needs were assessed prior to them commencing with the service and their preferences for how they wished to receive care documented.

Care plans contained information on people’s emotional, physical and social needs. They contained information on people’s preferences for how they wished to receive care. People were able to take part in activities both within the home and their local community.

People were supported to eat and drink to maintain a healthy diet. Where required people had access to specialist diets and assistance was offered at mealtimes. Information was shared with the chef to ensure menus were planned to include people’s food preferences.

People were supported to access appropriate healthcare services and where required referrals were made to ensure people received the correct care and support. For example, care plans evidenced involvement from speech and language therapists (SALT).

The service design supported people to be able to move freely around the home. Corridors and doorways were wide enough to support people with mobility aids or wheelchairs. Each floor was decorated differently to accommodate the needs of the people living there.

Staff had access to appropriate training and support to ensure they had the skills and experience to meet people’s needs. Staff said they felt supported, Comments included, “I feel 100% supported by the manager and owners. The service is managed well, and I feel able to raise any concerns.”

Infection and prevention control processes were in place to support the prevention and spread of infection. Staff were observed to be wearing appropriate PPE during the inspection. Visiting was being supported in line with government guidance and risk assessments were in place to support visitors to access the home safely.

The service has systems in place to monitor the quality of the service and identify where, if any, improvements were required. Complaints were listened to and responded to in a timely manner.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 23 March 2020 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

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.