CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Kirkby House Residential Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found that risks, infection control, staffing, medicines and accidents were managed safely.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs, choices, health and dietary requirements were assessed and reviewed. Staff were trained and supported, and worked with healthcare professionals.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect. People were supported to remain independent and involved in decisions about their care.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's individual needs and preferences. People were offered meaningful activities, support to maintain relationships and accessible information.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found positive leadership, effective audits and a culture of learning and improvement. People, families, staff and other professionals were involved in how the home was run.
What inspectors found, November 2022
Kirkby House Residential Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care across all five areas.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 18 October 2022. Two inspectors spoke with 10 people, three family members and staff. They reviewed care records, medicines records, recruitment checks, audits and other management records.
The home was rated Good overall, with Good ratings for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found that people were protected from abuse, risks were managed, medicines were handled safely and there were enough suitably skilled staff.
People told inspectors that staff were kind, respectful and knowledgeable about their needs. Care was personalised, activities were available every day, complaints were taken seriously and families were involved in decisions. The home was clean, with a recent infection control audit score of 99%.
This was the first inspection under the provider's new registration. The previous rating was Good, published on 6 December 2018.
Clean and infection-safe
The home was clean and hygienic, and staff followed infection prevention measures. A recent NHS infection control audit gave the home a 99% score.
“The hygiene and cleanliness of the premises and equipment was maintained to a high standard.” from the report
Safe medicines and staffing
Medicines were stored, administered and recorded safely. Inspectors also found enough suitably skilled and experienced staff to meet people's needs.
“Medicines were safely stored, recorded and administered by suitably trained and competent staff.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people well and supported their dignity, choices and independence. Families and people spoke positively about their relationships with staff.
“People were well treated and supported and their lifestyle choices were respected.” from the report
Personalised activities
Care plans reflected people's needs and preferences. Staff arranged a range of activities, including trips, exercises, arts and crafts, singing and dancing.
“Staff planned and facilitated a range of activities each day around people's needs, interests and hobbies.” from the report
Open and effective management
Managers used audits and checks to monitor quality and safety. People, families and staff were encouraged to give feedback and said managers listened.
“The providers systems and processes for checking on and improving the quality and safety of the service were used effectively.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you maintain the infection control standards and the 99% score from the recent NHS audit?
- 02How often will my relative's care plan and risk assessments be reviewed if their needs change?
- 03What activities would be suitable for my relative's interests, abilities and communication needs?
- 04How are medicines checked and audited, and how would you tell us about any medicines error?
- 05How will you involve our family in care reviews and decisions about changes in care?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, including infection prevention and control under Safe. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 November 2022 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 Kirkby House Residential Care Home
3 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- November 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Kirkby House Residential Care Home →
- November 2020Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- September 2020Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- January 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2021
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 27 August 2021.
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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Knowsley
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 £980 to £1,260 a week. 91 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“It was clear that she genuinely cared and her warm approach really helped put our minds at ease.”
“He developed a close affinity with Terence, spending time talking with him before he retired to bed and looking after his needs during the night.”
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.