The Care Quality Commission
  • Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Chy Koes

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Woodland Road, St Austell, Cornwall, PL25 4RA (01726) 76045

Provided and run by:
Cornwall Council

All Inspections

22 September 2015

During a routine inspection

This inspection took place on 22 September 2015 and was an announced comprehensive inspection. We contacted the service 24 hours prior to the inspection to ensure there were currently people staying at the respite centre and that staff would be available to assist us during our inspection visit.

The last inspection took place on 24 June 2013, we had no concerns at this inspection.

Chy Koes is a respite facility which offers care and support for up to five people.  The service is registered to support older people and people with a physical disability. Chy Koes is the only respite facility managed by Cornwall Council and provides support to people from across the whole county. At the time of the inspection there were four people staying at the service for a short period of time.

The service had a registered manager in post. The current registered manager had been in post since May 2015. 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.

The service identified and assessed risks. However, many of the risk assessments in people’s care files were not accurate, they had not been reviewed regularly and did not contain up to date information. Emergency plans were generalised and broad and provided information that was inaccurate relating to individuals and their needs in an emergency.

We looked at how medicines were managed and administered. The medicine records showed people received their medicines as prescribed. Many of the people staying at the service managed their own medicines.

The service had identified the minimum numbers of staff required to meet people’s needs and these were being met.

Staff were supported by a system of induction training, supervision and appraisals. More specialised training specific to the needs of people using the service was being provided. Training updates were provided as required.

Staff meetings were held regularly. These allowed staff to air any concerns or suggestions they had regarding the running of the service.

Meals were appetising and people were offered a choice in line with their dietary requirements and preferences. Where necessary staff monitored what people ate to help ensure they stayed healthy.

Support plans were well organised but some contained information that was no longer accurate. The plans held staff signatures and dates which indicated they had been reviewed regularly, but information was not consistently updated and inaccurate guidance remained on people’s files.

Activities were provided on a regular basis. People told us they were able to choose how they spent their time, and they could access the local community if they wished.

The registered manager was supported by the provider on a regular basis.

We found a breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) 2014. You can see the action we have told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report

24 June 2013

During a routine inspection

Chy Koes had been closed for the weekend prior to our inspection. The service provided respite for over 40 people at the time of our inspection. The service can accommodate up to five people. Three people and their carers arrived after lunch, to begin a period of respite. We spoke with three people who used the service who told us "it is home from home" and "staff are wonderful". They told us they enjoyed going out in the garden and visiting local shops during their stay. Family and carers of people who use Chy Koes told us "I can relax when x is here, I know x will be cared for well" and "x always looks forward to coming". People were positive about the care and support they received.

During our inspection, we found people's privacy, dignity and independence were respected. People were able to express their views and experiences, and these were taken into account in the way the service was provided and delivered in relation to their care.

People were protected from abuse and staff were trained and supported to carry out their roles.

People who used the service were protected from the risks associated with medication because the provider had appropriate arrangements in place to manage medicines.

We found people were cared for, or supported by, suitably qualified, skilled and experienced staff.

16 December 2012

During a routine inspection

We spoke with four of the people who were staying at Chy Koes. People were positive about the care and support they received. Typical comments included 'The staff are lovely', 'this is an excellent service'it is home from home' and 'none of us would come here again if it was not good'.

When we inspected the home it was clean and odour free. Accommodation was homely and comfortable. At the time of the inspection staffing levels and staff training provision were to a good standard. There were satisfactory systems in place to ensure people received a good quality service.

8 March 2012

During a routine inspection

People using this service told us they were very well cared for and felt part of a family at Chy Koes. They told us they were fully involved in the planning of their care and they could talk to the staff whenever they wished if they had a problem.

People said they were given plenty of information about the service and their only concern was that it was under review by the Cornwall Council and they feared that the service would be closed.

Accommodation was single rooms which respected people's privacy and dignity. We were told that staff always knocked before entering their rooms. People told us that staff promoted their independence and they spent their time as they wished. They told us they went out to the shops and to a local pub for meals sometimes.

They told us they could air their views at any time to any of the staff or the manager. They also told us they had completed satisfaction questionnaires but there was nothing to improve on.