Kingfisher Court

This report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) provides an overview of Kingfisher Court, a residential and nursing care home for individuals with acquired brain injuries and neurological conditions. The inspection highlighted areas where the service excels and areas that require improvement to ensure the highest standards of care. It aims to give families a clear picture of the home's performance across key areas.

On safety, the report noted concerns about infection prevention and control, with some areas requiring deep cleaning and others in poor repair, alongside insufficient domestic staffing levels. Gaps in staff training records were also identified, posing potential risks. While recruitment checks were generally robust, improvements were needed in thoroughly verifying employment histories. Risk assessments for individuals were not always adequate, and medication management required attention, with recommendations made for better assessment and more comprehensive support information for staff. Despite these points, the home was assured to be admitting people safely, using PPE effectively, and prepared for infection outbreaks.

In terms of how effective the care is, the service ensures people receive personalised care that meets their individual needs and preferences, with well-thought-out and executed care plans. Communication needs are well supported with specific plans and guidance for staff.

Regarding how caring the service is, residents enjoyed living at the home and felt safe, with staff demonstrating care and understanding. Staff felt supported by management, and morale was positive, with care staff responding promptly and compassionately. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives in the least restrictive way possible.

The service demonstrated responsiveness by providing individualised care in a person-centred way, with care plans reflecting residents' wishes and needs, including end-of-life care considerations. Communication plans were in place to support effective interactions. Activities were offered, catering to residents' interests both inside and outside the home.

In relation to how well-led the service is, while staff felt supported and morale was positive, more robust governance systems are needed to monitor and improve the quality of care. Records were not always in place to fully support actions taken. Improvements are needed in medication management, including risk assessments and the provision of adequate information for staff. Additionally, improvements are required in staffing for domestic roles and ensuring all staff training records are complete and up-to-date to mitigate risks.