CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Kite House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- This question was not inspected in detail during this focused visit. The report says no risks, concerns or significant improvement were identified through ongoing monitoring or inspection activity.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's rights under the Mental Capacity Act were supported, including lawful applications for Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards where needed. People were supported with food, activities and appointments with health professionals.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not inspected in detail during this focused visit. The report says people and families were positive about the care and that staff treated people with dignity and respect.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not inspected in detail during this focused visit. The report says people's needs, preferences and risks were recorded and that people were supported to choose activities.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had a clear vision, a registered manager and systems for staff support, audits and checks. The report found evidence that action was taken when issues were identified.
What inspectors found, February 2019
Kite House was rated Good; a focused inspection found people supported with choice, activities and healthcare, and no evidence of the concerns reported.
Inspectors visited without notice on 11 December 2018 and returned on 9 January 2019. They looked closely at concerns about restrictions on movement and whether two people were supported to take part in activities.
They found no evidence of unnecessary restrictions or of people being denied activities of their choice. A safeguarding alert had been raised with the local authority, which later closed all the safeguarding concerns after the home worked with it and took action where needed.
The inspectors reviewed the questions Effective and Well-led. Both remained Good. The other three question ratings were carried forward from the previous comprehensive inspection because no risks, concerns or significant improvements had been identified.
Choice and activities
People were supported to choose activities in the home and community. They also developed everyday skills such as cooking and household tasks.
“People were supported to do activities they enjoyed.” from the report
Health support
Staff helped people attend appointments and supported them during hospital stays. They also worked with health and social care professionals.
“People received care to support their physical and mental health needs.” from the report
Good management checks
Managers and senior staff provided guidance, and the home used audits and checks to monitor care, medicines and people's money.
“Audits and checks were routinely carried out to monitor the quality and safety of the service.” from the report
Comfortable setting
The building was well maintained and designed around the needs of people with learning disabilities or autism. People chose the decoration of their bedrooms and were able to use communal and outside areas.
“The building was well maintained and comfortable.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you decide whether any restriction on my relative's movement is necessary, lawful and the least restrictive option?
- 02How will you make sure my relative has regular activities that match their interests, both in the home and in the community?
- 03What support would my relative receive if they went into hospital?
- 04How are care plans and risk assessments updated when someone's needs or behaviour changes?
- 05What did the latest audits identify, and what actions were taken in response?
This was a focused inspection of Effective and Well-led; Safe, Caring and Responsive were not inspected in detail and their previous ratings were carried forward. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 February 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.
What inspectors found, June 2018
Kite House was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with only minor communication and finishing issues.
This was the home's first inspection since it opened in 2017. It was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 5 April 2018, followed by a second visit on 16 April 2018. Inspectors met all five people living there, spoke with people, staff, relatives and health professionals, and checked care, medicine and staff records.
Inspectors found a relaxed and happy home. Staff knew people well, supported their choices and encouraged independence. Care plans described people's needs, risks, communication methods and preferences. People were supported to take part in activities, keep in touch with family and access health professionals.
The home was clean and well maintained. Medicines were stored, given and recorded safely. Staff recruitment, training and supervision were suitable. The home had systems to check quality and safety, and all five areas inspected were rated Good.
The report also mentions minor issues. Some communal areas were still waiting for final decoration, internet access was not yet available inside the home, and one relative reported earlier problems with agreed calls. The relative said communication had recently improved.
Personalised support
Care plans included detailed information about people's needs, preferences, routines, communication and activities. Staff used this information to support individual choices and independence.
“Care plans were person centred and reflected people's physical, psychological and emotional needs.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors saw positive relationships between people and staff. Staff were patient, compassionate and respectful, including when supporting people who did not communicate verbally.
“Staff showed compassion and kindness to people, treating them gently and with consideration.” from the report
Promoting independence
People were encouraged to take part in daily tasks, activities and community life, while risks were considered. Staff supported people to build confidence and make choices.
“Staff supported people to be as independent as possible taking into account the risks to their health and well-being.” from the report
Safe medicines and environment
Medicines were stored, administered, recorded and disposed of safely. The home was clean, free from odours and well maintained.
“People received their medicines safely and on time.” from the report
Good links with health professionals
Staff contacted health professionals appropriately and followed their advice. People received support with physical and mental health needs.
“Staff worked with health professionals to enable people to maintain good health.” from the report
Earlier problems with agreed calls
minorOne relative said staff had not always called as arranged. The report says this had recently improved, but families should check how communication will be managed.
“There had been "teething problems with staff not always calling me as arranged." However they said recently this had improved.” from the report
Some finishing work remained
minorThe home was new and some communal areas still needed their final decoration. People were expected to be involved in completing this.
“For example, the final décor for some communal areas was still to be carried out.” from the report
- 01How will you make sure agreed calls and updates to relatives happen consistently?
- 02How many staff will support my relative each day, and how is cover arranged when staff also work at another home?
- 03How will you learn and use my relative's verbal or non-verbal communication methods?
- 04What is the current position on internet access and the unfinished communal decoration?
- 05What activities, family visits and opportunities for independence would be planned for my relative?
This was the home's first unannounced comprehensive inspection, covering all five CQC questions and the care and premises provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 June 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 Kite House
2 rated inspections over a year: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2018GoodEffective: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2017
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 March 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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17 live-in carers within about an hour of Devon
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 £1,020 to £1,270 a week. 15 can care for a couple. 13 years' experience on average.
“She is such a warm and gentle person while being professional and competent at the same time.”
“She looked after my mum, who can be incredibly challenging, so well and so gently, and we always felt confident that my mum was getting the best care available.”
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.