4 July 2016
During a routine inspection
At this inspection we found that improvements had been made in these areas and that the provider was compliant with the relevant regulations. However we also found a further breach of regulations because the systems used to monitor and mitigate risks to people did not always identify areas of risk promptly and because audits of people’s care plans did not always identify issues.
Prince George Duke of Kent Court is a nursing and residential home providing accommodation, care and support for up to 78 people. At the time of our inspection there were 71 people living at the service. There was a registered manager in post at the time of our inspection. 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.
We found that risks to people had been assessed and were safely managed, although improvement was required to ensure there was sufficient guidance for staff on how to manage identified risks. Improvement was also required to the management of people’s records, to ensure they were consistent and could be located promptly when required. People’s medicines were stored and administered safely as prescribed. Staff had received training in safeguarding adults and knew the action to take if they suspected abuse had occurred.
The provider followed safe recruitment practices and there were sufficient staff deployed within the service to meet people’s needs. People had access to a range of healthcare professionals when required and healthcare professionals we spoke with told us staff worked well to meet people’s health needs. People were supported to maintain a balanced diet.
Staff were aware of the importance of seeking consent from the people they supported and the provider followed the requirements of the MCA where people lacked capacity to ensure decisions were made lawfully in people’s best interests. Where required, people were lawfully deprived of the liberty in their best interests under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).
People were treated with kindness and consideration and told us they were involved in day to day decisions about their care and treatment. Staff treated people with dignity and respected their privacy. Staff were supported in their roles through training and regular supervision.
People’s care plans were reviewed on a regular basis to ensure they remained reflective of their current needs and views. There was a range of activities available to people at the service. People told us they knew how to complain and any complaints received by the service had been dealt with appropriately in line with the provider’s policy and procedure.
People were able to express their views about the service through regular residents meetings and by completing an annual survey. People told us they felt listened to and that action was taken in response to their feedback. People and staff also spoke positively about the leadership of the service and we saw that an ongoing programme of improvements was in place.