Archived: Leeds Mencap - The Rookery

Leeds Mencap-The Rookery provides a service for 12 people who have a learning disability and is situated in a residential area close to Chapel Allerton in the north of Leeds. At the time of our inspection, 12 people were using the service.

The care service was developed and designed many years ago. However, the provider ensures the service is in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

At our last inspection on 22 December 2015 we rated the service Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and on-going monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

This inspection took place 21 and 22 March 2018. The inspection was unannounced on the first day; this meant the staff and provider did not know we would be visiting. We also made telephone calls to people’s relatives on 22 March 2018.

Why the service is rated good:

A registered manager was in post. 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 remained safe at the service. People were protected by safe recruitment procedures which helped to make sure only staff suitable to work with vulnerable people were employed. Staff told us there were enough staff available to meet the needs of people and support them with any activities or trips out. Staff had received safeguarding training and risk assessments and management plans had been developed when needed to reduce the risk of harm occurring. People received their medicines safely and staff were suitably trained. Staff promoted good infection prevention and control practices.

People continued to receive care from staff who had the skills and knowledge required to effectively support them. All staff had completed a range of training such as safeguarding and new staff completed the Care Certificate (a nationally recognised training course for staff new to care). Training records needed to be updated to clearly show all the training staff had completed. The registered manager had an action plan in place to ensure this happened.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities to seek people's consent prior to care and support being provided. People’s health was monitored by the staff and they had access to a variety of healthcare professionals. This helped ensure people's healthcare needs were met. People's nutritional needs were met. People told us they enjoyed the food and menus were varied.

People told us they liked the staff that worked at the home. Staff treated people with kindness, respect and compassion. People were treated with dignity and their choices were respected by staff. People’s independence was promoted. There was a wide range of activities available for people both in the home and in the community. People were supported to maintain friendships outside of the service.

Care records were detailed, person centred and held full details on how people liked their needs to be met; taking into account people's preferences and wishes. People's care and support was based on best practice guidelines; helping to ensure the best outcomes for people.

People, staff and relatives spoke positively about the management team. Quality assurance systems were in place to monitor and continually improve the quality of the service provided. Policies and procedures were in place and were kept under review. Feedback was obtained from people who used the service, their families and representatives. There was a procedure to help people to complain if they wanted to.

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Further information is in the detailed findings below.

Staff said there were good systems in place to make sure the home was kept clean and hygienic. They said they had enough time to carry out the tasks to be done and to also encourage people who used the service to be as independent as they wanted to be, for example, cleaning their own rooms and attending to their own laundry.

People were protected from the risk of infection because appropriate guidance had been followed.

We saw that people were comfortable and at ease with staff and were supported to make choices to enhance their independence. We saw that staff were responsive to people's needs and requests for assistance.

People who used the service smiled and answered 'yes' when we asked if they liked the home and the staff who supported them. Other comments included:

'I like it here.'

'Everything has been good.'

People also said they enjoyed the food in the home, that there was plenty of choice and they could help themselves to drinks and snacks whenever they wanted.

Overall we saw that the home was reasonably clean, tidy and homely. However, the systems in place did not always promote the prevention and control of infections.

People were cared for by staff who were supported to deliver care safely and to an appropriate standard. Staff told us they were satisfied with the training they received and it prepared them well for their role.

At this visit, we found there were improvements and the service now had systems in place to ensure their practices with medication were safe and checked more regularly.

People who used the service said they received their medication when they needed it. They said staff supported them well with their medication and always gave them a drink with it.

Staff told us they received training covering all aspects of medication handling.

We spoke with six people who used the service. They said they were happy living at the home and they were well looked after. People's comments included: 'Very good here', 'Nice staff, I like them' and 'They look after us good.'

People we spoke with said they understood their care and support plans and that staff had explained things well to them. One person said they had a key worker they could talk to about their support plans.

People looked well cared for and supported and were responded to promptly when they asked for any support or assistance. We saw staff interacting with people in a respectful and caring manner. They showed warmth and patience when giving support to people.

We did however, see a number of discrepancies with the way medication was handled and managed for people who used the service. We found the systems in place did not always adequately protect people from the risks associated with the unsafe use of medicines.

People who used the service said they felt staff listened to them when they made any suggestions. They said they had regular meetings.