24 June 2011
During a routine inspection
'get on with everyone here'
'can make a cup of tea when I want'
'so happy'
One person told us how he had just been away with friends. He felt able to live his life in the way he wanted saying that living at Kirkland House meant that he had 'not a worry in the world'.
Another person told us after lunch that staff always asked if people wanted more and that they had choice about what they ate. They told us that the food was good.
Another person told us that they 'had come to the right place' and that they did not want to move.
People told us that the activities provision had improved recently after the manager asked all the people living at the service what they wanted regarding activities and entertainment. People told us that they had been taken shopping and that here was more entertainment in the evenings, as they had requested.
People told us that they felt unsettled and concerned as the future of the service is under review as part of a review of social care provision by Leeds City Council. The manager is working hard with people to support them in making choices.
People were happy with the care they receive at the service. We saw good interaction between care workers and the people who live at the service. Staff were patient and explained their actions clearly to people.
One person who had been transferred by staff using a hoist told us that they had confidence in the staff.
One person had had a fall and described to us how the staff made sure that she had not suffered any injury and how they had arranged for her to see the doctor following the fall to make sure that she was alright. This person told us that when they had moved into Kirkland House that 'they had come to the right place'.
People told us that they were 'settled and happy.
We saw staff deal with people with patience and respect, taking time to explain actions clearly and thoroughly, making sure that they understood.
We saw a recent letter from someone about the care of their relative at the service thanking staff for the 'dedicated care' given by staff. The letter also described how '(name of person) was able to select her own lifestyle which suited her'
At our visit of January 2009, people told us '
'There is a shortage of staff, but staff still give us good care and support, nothing is too hard for them to do for us, they always try to make time for us'.
At this visit people told us that they 'got on well' with the staff.
One person who had been transferred by staff to her easy chair using a lifting aid told us that she did not mind the hoist as she had confidence in the staff.
We saw the staff relate well to the people they care for, they were patient and respectful. We saw staff explain tasks to people before carrying them out.