Kent House Residential Home

The registered manager had left the service in September 2022 and the provider was looking to appoint a replacement. No applications from appointable candidates had been received and the provider continued to seek a new manager. In the interim they had arranged for the service to been led by an experienced manager. The manager had worked with the staff team to make improvements at the service.

People were at the centre of everything that happened at the service and staff now worked as a team to ensure people received a good standard of care. Staff felt supported and appreciated.

There were enough staff with the required skills and experience to meet people's needs. People told us staff were "helpful" and "They help me". Relatives told us staff were, "nice and good and caring", "friendly and responsive" and "They really do care". They also told us staff were gentle when they supported people.

People's needs had been assessed with them before they moved into the service. Risks to people had been assessed and care had been planned with them to keep them as safe as possible. People's medicines were managed safely and people received the medicines and health care they needed to stay well. Staff knew how to identify safeguarding concerns and were confident to raise these with the provider and outside organisations.

People told us they enjoyed the food at the service. Meals were prepared to meet people's needs and preferences.

Regular checks and audits had been completed and any shortfalls identified. Action had been taken to address these. When things had gone wrong the provider learnt lessons and took action to prevent them from happening again. People and their relatives had received an apology.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People received visitors when they wanted to and went out with friends, family and staff.

The building had been adapted to meet people's needs. It was clean and staff followed best practice

guidance to protect people from the risk of the spread of infection.