CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Kirk House
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
What inspectors found, April 2020
Overall Outstanding; inspectors found exceptionally responsive, person-centred care and strong leadership, with safe, effective and caring support rated Good.
This was a planned, announced inspection on 7 and 13 November 2019. One inspector observed care, spoke with relatives, staff and professionals, and reviewed care plans, medicines records, complaints, incidents and quality checks.
The inspectors found people were safe, supported by well-trained staff and treated with dignity. Care was personalised, with activities, communication methods and support adapted to individual needs. Families and professionals gave very positive feedback.
The home was rated Outstanding overall. Responsive and well-led were Outstanding. Safe, effective and caring were Good. This means the inspection found consistently high-quality care overall, with especially strong personalisation and leadership.
Personalised activities
People had a wide range of activities shaped around their interests, communication needs and comfort. Inspectors saw people enjoying music, sensory activities, reading and personal care experiences of their choice.
“Activities were exceptionally person centred.” from the report
Support for independence
The home supported people to make choices and take positive risks. Staff used tailored communication aids and other approaches to help people understand and control their daily lives.
“Risk is not a barrier to [name] being able to live the life they want to live, as long as it's supported effectively.” from the report
Skilled staff
Staff completed a thorough induction and received training linked to people's individual needs. Inspectors found staff had strong knowledge of health, behaviour and communication support.
“Staff were highly skilled and very well trained.” from the report
Strong quality monitoring
The home's live data system allowed managers to review records and incidents quickly. This helped the service identify problems, share learning and make changes promptly.
“Comprehensive quality checks were available in real time as the provider had a bespoke live data recording system which could review all records and incidents instantly.” from the report
Large building
minorThe home was larger than most domestic-style properties and had been developed before current Registering the Right Support guidance. Inspectors said the impact was reduced by dividing it into four separate services with separate staff teams.
“The service was a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties.” from the report
- 01How would you assess and support my relative's individual communication needs, including whether they use pictures, signs or other aids?
- 02How would you involve my relative and our family in assessing risks and agreeing positive risk-taking?
- 03How are staffing levels changed when people's needs or anxiety levels change?
- 04How are activities chosen and reviewed to make sure they reflect my relative's interests and choices?
- 05How does the four-part structure of the larger building work in practice for residents and staff?
This was a planned comprehensive inspection of the care home, covering both the premises and care provided and all five CQC questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 April 2020 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, December 2016
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care across all five areas.
The announced inspection took place on 10 November 2016. One inspector spoke with the manager, staff, five people living at the home and four relatives. The inspector also observed care and checked care plans, medicines records, staff training, complaints and quality checks.
Inspectors found that people were kept safe, received their medicines correctly and had enough staff support. Staff understood people's individual needs, supported healthy eating and helped people access health professionals. People were treated with dignity and kindness.
The home supported people to take part in activities, education, work and family life. Care plans were personalised, and people and relatives were involved in care reviews. The home had systems to monitor quality, respond to complaints and support staff.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This means inspectors judged the care and management arrangements to be good in each area at the time of this inspection.
Safe staffing
The home used flexible staffing levels so people could take part in activities while still receiving the support they needed.
“The provider employed sufficient numbers of staff to keep people safe and each person had a support worker allocated to them” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw warm relationships between staff and people. Relatives also described the care as kind and compassionate.
“Relatives told us that their loved ones were cared for by kind, caring and compassionate staff.” from the report
Personalised communication
Staff used picture cards, communication passports and emergency information sheets to understand and support people who could not communicate easily.
“A person centred approach was taken with people who had difficulty communicating their needs verbally.” from the report
Active lives and independence
People were supported with hobbies, sport, education, voluntary work, household tasks and family activities.
“People lived busy and active lives and were encouraged to take part in hobbies and interests of their choice.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The home carried out regular checks on areas including medicines, health and safety and infection control. Actions were recorded and shared with staff.
“A programme of regular audit was in place that covered key areas such as health and safety, medicines and infection control.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How many staff are on duty now, and how do you adjust staffing when people go out or take part in activities?
- 02How are communication passports and picture-based communication used for my relative's appointments and day-to-day care?
- 03Does my relative have a current Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards authorisation, and what conditions or review dates apply?
- 04How are care plans reviewed when a person's health, behaviour, interests or independence needs change?
- 05What activities, education, work or family contact could you support my relative to continue or develop?
This was an announced inspection of the overall service and covered all five CQC questions: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 December 2016 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 Kirk House
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- April 2020Outstandingcurrent ratingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- December 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 10 January 2011.
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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9 live-in carers within about an hour of Lincolnshire
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.
8 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Martin was more than a carer, he managed the home and became my uncle's best friend, enriching his life during his last few years.”
“Magda was always positive and proactive about trying new things to keep dad busy. She also introduced new ideas for keeping dad healthy.”
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.