About the service: The Kilkenny Residential Home is a residential care home for older people situated in Frinton on sea. The accommodation is located over two floors. There were eight people living at the service on the day of inspection.

People’s experience of using this service:

The service failed to manage and mitigate fire safety. We referred the service to the local fire authority

The service failed to have appropriate and detailed evacuation plans in place for staff to follow.

The provider failed to maintain the environment to ensure it was safe for people living in the service. We have recommended a maintenance schedule is implemented to address environmental improvements.

Staff and relatives told us there were insufficient staff in the service.

People's medicines were not managed safely

Mental capacity assessments were not always completed in line with law. We have recommended mental capacity assessments are reviewed.

Staff and relatives told us the service failed to provide adequate and meaningful activities for people

The service was not well led. The provider and management lacked oversight of the service.

Systems were in place to monitor the quality of the service; however, these were not effective and failed to highlight concerns raised during the inspection.

End of life care plans were not always in place for people. We have recommended end of life care planning for people is developed.

The service failed to encourage staff to maintain and develop their knowledge and skills.

Staff respected people's privacy and dignity but failed to interact with people in a caring and compassionate way.

Staff and relatives told us the service failed to provide adequate and meaningful activities for people

Rating at last inspection: Good (report published 20 October 2016.)

Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection.

Enforcement: Action we told provider to take (refer to end of full report)

Follow up: The overall rating for this service is 'Inadequate' and the service is therefore in 'Special Measures'. This means we will keep the service under review and, if we do not propose to cancel the provider's registration, we will re-inspect within 6 months to check for significant improvement.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

The inspection took place on 21 April 2016 and was unannounced.

The Kilkenny provides accommodation and personal care for up to 10 older people. The service does not provide nursing care. At the time of our inspection there were six people using the service.

There was a registered manager in post at the service. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People were safe because the registered manager and staff understood their responsibilities in managing risk and recognising abuse or poor practice. People received safe care that met their assessed needs.

There were sufficient staff who had been recruited safely and who had the correct skills and knowledge to safely meet people’s needs in ways that they preferred.

The provider had systems in place to manage medicines and people were supported to take their prescribed medicines safely.

People’s health and social needs were managed effectively with input from relevant health care professionals and people had sufficient food and drink that met their individual needs.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) monitors the operation of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which apply to care homes. We found the provider was following the MCA code of practice.

The provider and registered manager supported staff to provide care that was centred on the person and staff understood their responsibility to treat people as individuals.

People were treated with kindness and respect by staff who knew them well. Staff respected people’s choices and took their preferences into account when providing support. People were encouraged to enjoy pastimes and interests of their choice and were supported to maintain relationships with friends and family so that they were not socially isolated.

Staff had good relationships with people who used the service and were attentive to their needs. People’s privacy and dignity was respected.

There was an open culture and the registered manager encouraged and supported staff to provide a good standard of individual care.

The provider had systems in place to check the quality of the service and take people’s views into account to make improvements to the service.

The provider had systems in place so that people could raise concerns and there were opportunities available for people or their representatives to give their feedback about the service.

The registered manager was visible and actively involved in supporting people and staff. Staff were positive about their roles and their views were valued by the provider and the registered manager.