CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Kirklands
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were safeguarded from abuse and avoidable harm. Risks, staffing, medicines, infection control and visiting arrangements were managed safely, although some records were not always written in person-centred language.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected in detail in this report. Its rating was carried forward from the previous inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected in detail in this report. Its rating was carried forward from the previous inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected in detail in this report. Its rating was carried forward from the previous inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had a positive and open culture, effective management systems and good communication with health care professionals. People, relatives and staff were involved in running the home.
What inspectors found, January 2024
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and well-managed care, with some records needing more person-centred language.
The home provides accommodation and personal care for up to six people with learning disabilities and complex needs. Six people were living there during the inspection.
The inspection was unannounced. Inspectors visited on 20 and 22 November 2023. They observed care, spoke with people, relatives and staff, and checked care, medicine, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe and Well-led were both rated Good. Inspectors found people were protected from abuse, supported by enough staff, and received medicines safely. The home was clean and visits were not restricted.
Inspectors also found a positive culture and effective management systems. They noted that some care plans and risk assessments did not always use person-centred language. They also asked the home to make sure people understood what their medicines were for, where possible, and the manager took immediate action.
People felt safe
People and relatives told inspectors that people felt safe and supported. Staff knew people well and risks were assessed and managed.
“People were safeguarded from abuse and avoidable harm. People told us they felt safe and supported.” from the report
Kind and unrushed support
Inspectors saw staff supporting people in a caring, friendly and unrushed way. Staff focused on people’s needs and wishes.
“Throughout our inspection we observed staff supporting people in a caring, friendly and unrushed way.” from the report
Safe medicines and clean surroundings
Medicine records were complete, and medicines were stored and given safely. The home was clean and infection control systems were in place.
“Medicines records were complete, and medicines were stored and administered safely.” from the report
Open management
Inspectors found effective systems for monitoring care and learning from incidents. Relatives described the manager as approachable, open and transparent.
“The provider had a clear management structure that monitored the quality of care to drive improvements in service delivery.” from the report
Unrestricted visiting
Family and friends could visit when they wanted to. The home treated the service as the person’s home.
“There were no restrictions on visiting and people's family and friends were able to visit when they wanted to.” from the report
Care records were not always person-centred
needs fixingCare plans and risk assessments were detailed, but some of the language did not always describe people in a person-centred way. The manager planned to update them after the electronic recording system was embedded.
“Care plans and risk assessments were very detailed, however used language not always person-centered.” from the report
Medicine information for people
needs fixingInspectors highlighted that people should be told what their medicines were and what they were for, in a way they could understand where possible. The manager took immediate action.
“We highlighted that people should be informed what their medication is and what for in a way they could understand, if at all possible.” from the report
- 01How have you updated care plans and risk assessments to make their language more person-centred?
- 02How do you explain each person’s medicines and what they are for in a way that person can understand?
- 03What activities and choices are currently available for the person I am considering placing here?
- 04How do you involve relatives and people living at the home in reviews and decisions about care?
- 05How do you monitor incidents and make sure lessons learned are shared with staff?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other key question ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection in January 2018. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 January 2024 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, January 2018
Kirklands was rated Good; inspectors found safe, caring and personalised support, with improvements in management since the previous inspection.
Inspectors visited on 1 and 8 November 2017 without telling the home in advance. They spoke with people living there, relatives, managers and staff. They looked around the home and checked care records, staff files, medicine records, policies and audits.
The home supported up to six adults with learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs or physical disabilities. Inspectors found detailed risk assessments, enough experienced staff, safe medicine systems and suitable recruitment checks. Staff received training, supervision and support.
People were involved in their care plans and daily choices. They were supported with food, healthcare, activities, family relationships and independence. Staff were seen to respect people's privacy and dignity, and complaints and feedback were acted on.
The overall rating was Good, with Good ratings in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The previous inspection in November 2015 also rated the service Good overall, but Well-led was Requires Improvement. This had improved to Good.
Detailed risk planning
People had detailed risk assessments covering areas such as health, medicines, transport, cycling and smoking. These were reviewed with them to keep them relevant.
“People had detailed and comprehensive risk assessments in place which were actively reviewed with them to ensure they remained up to date and relevant.” from the report
Enough skilled staff
Inspectors found enough experienced staff to meet people's needs. Recruitment checks were completed, and staff received relevant training and supervision.
“Our observations and the staffing rota supported that there were sufficient numbers of experienced staff to meet people's' needs.” from the report
Respect and dignity
Staff were observed to interact politely and supportively. They knocked before entering bedrooms and spoke privately with people about personal issues.
“Staff were observed to interact with people politely and appropriately to the situation.” from the report
Personalised activities
Activities reflected people's interests and included community visits, holidays, art galleries and seeing horses. Staff recorded participation and reasons when activities did not happen.
“People's needs for stimulation were met in varied ways that responded to their individual interests and preferences.” from the report
Improved leadership
The previous Well-led rating was Requires Improvement because there was no registered manager. At this inspection, there was a registered manager and the rating was Good.
“At this inspection we found the service was 'Well-led' and had a registered manager in place.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How often will my relative's risk assessments and support plans be reviewed, and how will they be changed if their needs change?
- 02How will you make sure there are enough experienced staff to support my relative, including when they go into the community?
- 03How will you support my relative to take medicines safely and understand what they are taking?
- 04Which activities could you support my relative to take part in, based on their interests and goals?
- 05How will my relative and our family be involved in care planning, reviews and giving feedback?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection of the care, premises and management of the home, covering all five CQC questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 January 2018 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 Kirklands
3 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2024Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- December 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 3 December 2014.
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 Leeds
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 £1,250 a week. 89 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“Carla has been a god send with the implementation of bringing mum back home from respite care.”
“Took his time to learn about me read my care plan and to listen to me. great companionship with lots of laughing.”
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