CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Kings Court Care Centre
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
What inspectors found, March 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found people were safe and infection control arrangements were in place.
This was an unannounced targeted inspection on 19 February 2021. It followed concerns about staffing, safety and the reporting of concerns. One inspector visited, spoke with the manager and staff, checked accident and safeguarding records, and reviewed further evidence after the visit.
Inspectors found no evidence that people were at risk of harm from the concerns. Staff reported concerns promptly, safeguarding alerts were raised when needed, and accidents and near misses were recorded. The home also sent accident information to the provider's head office for extra oversight.
The inspection also looked at infection prevention during the coronavirus pandemic. Inspectors were assured about PPE, testing, safe admissions, visiting arrangements, cleaning, social distancing and the handling of possible outbreaks. This was a targeted inspection, so the home was inspected but not given a new overall rating.
Reporting safety concerns
Staff said they were trained and confident to report concerns. Inspectors found evidence that concerns were recorded, acted on and referred to safeguarding teams when needed.
“There was evidence the staff promptly identified, recorded and reported any concerns.” from the report
Infection control
The home had PPE, staff training, testing and checks of staff practice. Inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed.
“Staff competencies in donning, doffing the PPE and hand hygiene were assessed by a designated infection control champion.” from the report
Safe visiting arrangements
The home supported contact with relatives through technology, window visits and individually risk-assessed visits. A visiting pod had also been created.
“People were supported to maintain contact with relatives using technology, or as appropriate window visits and individually risk assessed in person visits” from the report
Safe admissions
The home had arrangements for safe admissions and safe visits by professionals, including awareness of zoning and cohorting guidance.
“There was a system in place to ensure safe admissions to the service, to ensure professionals' visits were safe” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What staffing concerns led to this targeted inspection, and how have staffing levels been monitored since February 2021?
- 02How are accidents, near misses and safeguarding concerns reported to the provider's head office, and what action follows?
- 03How often are staff tested for Covid-19 and checked on their use of PPE and hand hygiene?
- 04How are visits from relatives and professionals risk assessed now?
- 05What arrangements are used for safe admissions and for managing any infection outbreak?
This was a targeted inspection of specific concerns about staffing, safety and infection control; the inspectors said all key questions would be assessed at the next comprehensive inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 March 2021 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, November 2019
Kings Court Care Centre was rated Good; inspectors found improved care, staffing and management, with a few issues to keep checking.
This was an unannounced inspection on 15 and 16 October 2019. Inspectors spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and health professionals. They observed care and checked care plans, medicines, staff records, audits and other records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found improvements in staffing, care records, quality checks and meeting people's needs since the previous inspection.
People generally felt safe and well cared for. Staff were kind and respectful, medicines were managed safely, people's health and dietary needs were supported, and activities were available. There were some short periods when people waited for help, some concerns about agency staff, and a few records or choices that needed closer checking.
Improved staffing and care
The home had employed more staff and provided one-to-one support for people assessed as needing it. Care records had improved and showed how people's needs should be met.
“Since our last inspection, improvements had been made to quality assurance, staffing and meeting peoples care needs.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw staff checking on people, speaking kindly and giving people time to communicate. People and relatives generally said staff were attentive and respectful.
“Throughout our inspection, we saw staff demonstrating numerous acts of kindness and thoughtfulness.” from the report
Safe medicines and risk records
Medicines were obtained, stored and given safely. The records checked were complete, and risk plans and monitoring charts were up to date.
“The records we checked were fully completed. A monitoring system was in place that identified shortfalls and confirmed actions needed.” from the report
Good links with health services
People could access several health services, including regular GP visits. Health professionals said the home responded well and involved the right professionals.
“I particularly like the way the staff at Kings Court are proactive in getting the right professionals involved,” from the report
Activities and personalisation
The home offered regular activities and recorded participation. Communal areas and bedrooms had been adapted or personalised to support people's needs and interests.
“A weekly activity programme was displayed on each floor.” from the report
Stronger management checks
The home had regular audits covering care records, medicines, infection control, safety and staff interactions. Action plans were used when improvements were needed.
“Robust systems were in place to monitor and evaluate the quality of the service provided.” from the report
Some delays in getting help
needs fixingOne person and a relative said they sometimes waited longer than they would like. Inspectors also saw a short period when staff were less visible and two people needed help.
“On the second day of our inspection, staff were not so visible for a short period of time before lunch,” from the report
Use of agency staff
minorAgency staff were providing one-to-one support for some people. Three people said agency staff did not seem as caring as permanent staff.
“Three people commented they were not so satisfied when agency staff were on duty.” from the report
Meal choices were not always offered
needs fixingOn the first day, some people who could not fully communicate were not told what meal they were being served or offered a choice. The home acted on this the next day and said it would monitor the issue.
“They were not told what the meal they were being served, was.” from the report
One care instruction did not match
needs fixingA health professional's instruction about the type of beaker one person needed did not match other records, staff information or what inspectors saw. This was raised with the home.
“The SALT team had assessed one person and noted in the care records they needed to be supported to drink with a beaker with no lid.” from the report
- 01How do you make sure people receive help promptly during busy periods, including before lunch?
- 02How are agency staff told about each person's needs, preferences and communication style before providing one-to-one support?
- 03How do you check that people who cannot easily communicate are offered a meal choice and told what they are being served?
- 04How do you make sure instructions from health professionals match the current care plan and what staff are doing?
- 05What improvements have been sustained since the previous Requires Improvement inspection?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five key questions, with observations, discussions with people and relatives, and checks of care, medicines, staffing and management records. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 November 2019 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Kings Court Care Centre
2 rated inspections over a year: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- November 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2018Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- July 2017
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 30 July 2017.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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44 live-in carers within about an hour of Swindon
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £990 to £1,280 a week. 34 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
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“She was very caring, kind and patient to all his needs, she built up a wondetful rapport with him, she was dedicated and was there for him through good times as well as through the tough times”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.