Knappe Cross Care Centre

At out last inspection, December 2024, the service was rated requires improvement. At this assessment, the service has improved and is rated good.

We assessed this service to follow up on the warning notices we served following our last assessment in December 2024. The provider had met the concerns identified in the warning notice. They are no longer in breach of legal regulation in relation to good governance.

The providers management team had worked hard to make the improvements needed and were passionate about doing things right for both people using the service and staff. There was a strong learning culture at the home after a difficult period.

Staff felt comfortable raising concerns and trusted the new registered manager and operations manager.

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) were well-managed. DoLS is a legal protections under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA), to protect the rights of people in care homes who lack the capacity to consent to their care arrangements, and who may be deprived of their liberty as a result. Staff had access to the information they needed to ensure they supported people appropriately in line with the MCA.

Risks were assessed and monitored, and the home was safe and clean. Regular checks and required maintenance were completed.

Staff received relevant training, confirmed by an accurate training matrix. Recruitment processes were thorough, with all necessary checks completed.

People’s needs were assessed using a dependency tool to ascertain the staffing levels needed. However the operations manager told us the day after our site visit, they had reviewed feedback from people and staff and looked at the layout and scale of the home and increased the morning staffing level.

Staff were kind and respectful. Most call bells were answered quickly, although 1 delay was reported and was being investigated.

Staff handled medicines safely with clear guidance for staff.

Senior staff conducted regular audits and checks. These helped to improve the service.

Staff reviewed incidents to learn from them, and people their relatives and staff were kept informed and involved.

However, some people said there were times when no staff were in the lounge, and they did not have access to a call bell. The management team addressed this.