Kingsmills Care Home

1. To promote well-being and a good nutritional intake, staff should support people who need help with eating and drinking in a person-centred way. The provider should ensure that; a) staff follow good practice guidance such as "Eating and drinking well in care: good practice guidance for older people" (Care Inspectorate); b) where improvements are identified as a result of a mealtime observational exercise or feedback during a residents' meeting, action is taken to address the concern. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which state that: 'If I need help with eating and drinking, this is carried out in a dignified way, and my personal preferences are respected'. (HSCS 1.34); 'People have time to support and care for me and to speak with me'. (HSCS 3.16)

2. To ensure prompt recognition and monitoring of people at risk of dehydration, the provider should ensure that; a) treatment plans and tools, such as fluid intake records, relating to people at risk of dehydration, are completed regularly and consistently; b) prompt action is taken where a person may not/has not met their 24-hour fluid intake goal. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which state that: 'Any treatment or intervention that I experience is safe and effective'. (HSCS 1.24); 'I can enjoy unhurried snack and meal times in as relaxed an atmosphere as possible'. (HSCS 1.35).

1. To ensure people benefit from a service which is well led and managed, the provider should ensure that effective ‘early warning systems’ are in place to identify risks to people's care and support. This should include the use of monitoring trends over time to ensure that any areas requiring improvement are identified early and addressed promptly. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which state that: ‘I benefit from a culture of continuous improvement, with the organisation having robust and transparent quality assurance processes’. (HSCS 4.19); ‘I use a service and organisation that are well led and managed’. (HSCS 4.23).

1. To ensure people's dignity and choices were consistently supported, the provider should ensure that; a) people's preferred daily routines and preferences in relation to their personal presentation were documented in their plan of care; b) staff remain mindful of and respect the dignity of residents; c) staff document in daily notes when someone has declined support with personal grooming. This is to ensure care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which state that: ' My needs, as agreed in my personal plan, are fully met, and my wishes and choices are respected'. (HSCS 1.23) .

1. In order to support good outcomes for people's health and wellbeing, the provider should ensure that staff were supported in their role through effective and regular meetings with their management team. This should include implementing a formal process of professional support, through regular 1:1 meetings with their manager or supervisor. Outcomes from professional support and supervision meetings should inform future training for individuals and contribute to annual staff appraisals. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which state that: 'I have confidence in people because they are trained, competent and skilled, are able to reflect on their practice and follow their professional and organisational codes'. (HSCS 3.14).