Kent House

Updated 13 February 2019

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 comprehensive inspection took place on 15 and 16 January 2019 and was unannounced. The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Prior to the inspection, we requested and received a completed Provider Information Return (PIR). We used information the provider sent us in the PIR. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. Throughout the inspection, we offered the registered manager and staff opportunities to share with us what they did well. We reviewed notifications and any other information we had received. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

During the inspection, we looked at four people’s care records and four staff recruitment and training records. We observed medicine administration, checked records and storage of medicines. We observed a lunchtime meal. We spoke with four people who lived at the home. We spoke with the registered manager, two assistant managers and five staff. Following the visit to the home, we sought feedback from staff and relatives. We contacted health and social care professionals who had experience of working with the home.

Updated 13 February 2019

This inspection took place on 15 and 16 January 2019. It was an unannounced visit to the service.

Kent House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. Kent House is registered to provide support up to 22 older people. At the time of the inspection 20 people lived at the home.

Kent House is a purpose built unit, it is made up of single bedrooms, one bedroomed bungalows and a first floor flat. It provides support to people who have an acquired brain injury. Some of the people who live at the home also have a physical disability and depend on a wheelchair for all mobility. The home has communal seating, dinning and activity areas. The home benefits from an onsite therapy room, in which a physiotherapist and an occupational therapist work. Clinical psychologist support was available when needed.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

We received positive feedback from people, their relatives and community professionals. Comments included “I like the staff, I get on with them” and “I have been here 11 years and have always been looked after, I am happy here.” Another person told us “I am very happy.” A relative told us “My brother [Name of person] has lived at Kent house for a number of years, without their good care and understanding I doubt if he would still be here.”

People were supported to take and manage their prescribed medicines. We noted dispensing labels and medicine administration records (MARs) for thickening agent for drinks did not always match the advice from the speech and language therapist. We have made a recommendation about this in the report.

People were supported by staff who knew them well. However, care plans were not always updated following changes made. When we spoke with staff they were aware of the changes made. We have made a recommendation about updating records in a timely way.

People were supported by staff who had been recruited safely to ensure they had the right skills and attributes to work with people. Staff were supported with ongoing training to maintain their knowledge and skills.

People were supported to maintain their health. The service worked closely with external healthcare professionals. Where people were admitted to hospital the service ensured hospital staff were aware of the person’s likes and dislikes.

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.

People were supported to maintain family and friendships which were important to them. People had opportunities to attend community centres, where they could participate in cookery programmes, singing groups and gardening projects.

People told us the service was well-led, Kent House had an experienced registered manager in post who was supported by two assistant managers. The management team worked together to drive improvements to benefit people who lived at the home.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.