Archived: The Keepings

Updated 11 December 2019

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

The Keepings is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

Due to technical problems, the provider was not able to complete a Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. Prior to the inspection we reviewed information we held about the service. This included information about deaths, accidents/incidents and safeguarding alerts which they are required to send us by law. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

During the inspection we were unable to speak with many people to understand how they felt about the service, as they were unable to communicate their views. We managed to speak with one person and observed how people were supported. We spoke with four relatives, two members of staff, the deputy manager, the registered manager and owner who was available on the first day of the inspection. We reviewed a range of records, this included the care records for five people, medicine records and records related to the management of the service

We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk to us.

Updated 11 December 2019

About the service

The Keepings is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to 19 people aged 65 and over living with dementia at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 23 people.

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

People were kept safe and staff knew how to do so. Staff were recruited appropriately and received training, so they knew how to support people with their medicines as they were prescribed. There were sufficient staff to support people and risks to people were identified and reviewed. People received support from staff who received infection control training. When an accident or incident took place, trends were monitored.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and care staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Staff could access support when needed and had the appropriate skills and knowledge to meet people’s needs. People made choices as what they had to eat and drink and could access health care when needed.

People received support from staff who were caring and kind. People’s privacy, dignity and independence were promoted.

People received support that was responsive to their needs. They were communicated with in a way they could understand. Assessments and care plans were in place and reviews took place regularly so where needs changed, staff would know how to support people based on their changing needs. People could access activities that were tailored to their interests and hobbies. The provider had a complaints process in place and complaints were responded to on a timely basis.

People received support that was well led. The provider ensured appropriate governance was now in place to monitor the quality of the service, spot checks and audits were now taking place. The registered manager ensured people’s views were gathered by way of them completing questionnaires and regular meetings took place, so people were involved in the management of the service.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Requires Improvement (Report published 22 November 2018) and there was a breach of regulation 17. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor the service through the information we receive until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.

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