Archived: Leighton House

Updated 1 May 2015

We carried out this inspection under section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

The inspection took place on the 20 and 21 October 2014 and was unannounced.

The inspection team consisted of two inspectors and two experts by experience that had experience of people who were living with dementia. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone’s who uses care services.

Before the inspection we spoke to local commissioners of the service and the speech and language therapy team (SALT) to obtain their views on how the service was run. The provider completed a provider information return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, for example what the service does well, and any improvements they intend to make. Before the inspection we examined previous inspection reports and notifications we had received. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to tell us about by law.

We looked at people’s care records including their pre-admission assessments, care plans, and risk assessments. We looked at how medicines were managed and the records relating to this. We looked at staff recruitment files, meeting records and documents in relation to the monitoring of the service.

We observed the care and support provided by staff in all areas of the home to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. We spoke with two people, four staff, one visiting health care professional and two relatives. We looked at four care plans; four staff recruitment files and other documents that helped us gain an understanding of how the service was run.

The service was last inspected on 30 October 2013 and there were no concerns raised.

Updated 1 May 2015

Leighton House care home provides personal and nursing care, and is registered to accommodate up to 26 people some of whom are living with dementia. The premises is a large converted period property; the accommodation is arranged over two floors. The home has sixteen bedrooms upstairs and eight bedrooms downstairs.

The inspection was unannounced and took place on the 20 and 21 October 2014

The home had a registered manager in place. 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 told us they felt safe living at living at the home because of the care that staff provided them with. Their relatives told us that the staff were caring and respectful and met their needs. Our observations confirmed this and we found that there were systems in place to protect people from the risk of harm.

The provider had good recruitment systems in place. We found evidence that staff had completed all relevant recruitment checks prior to starting work. There were enough staff with appropriate skills and experience to keep people safe.

Systems were in place to ensure that medicines were stored, administered and managed safely. We found that staff had the required training, and there were enough experienced staff to manage medicines appropriately and to meet people’s needs safely.

Staff said they were supported by the registered manager and had received the training and information they needed to do their jobs well and meet people’s care needs. Staff spoke positively about the support they received from the registered manager. Staff told us there was a good level of communication within the home which helped them to be aware of any changes. People and their relatives told us they found that they could speak with the staff to raise any concerns, and knew how to raise complaints and concerns if they needed to. Relatives told us any concerns were dealt with by the registered manager in a timely manner.

The manager and staff understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLs). There were clear records in place to show who could represent people and act in their best interest if complex decisions were needed about their care and treatment.

People and their relatives spoke positively about the home and the care people received, and we saw that staff supported people with all their nutritional needs. People who required personalised diets had their needs monitored and had access to health care professionals who supported staff to meet people’s dietary needs.

Relatives told us the care people received was good. We found that people’s care records, reviews and risk assessments were up to date. Relatives told us they were included in review meetings and were notified of any changes in people’s care needs.

Staff understood the needs of people and we observed that care was provided in a kind and caring manner. People and their relatives spoke positively about the home and the care that they received

Staff told us they received on-going training and we found they were appropriately trained and understood their responsibilities, as well as the values of the home. They said they had received training to ensure the care provided to people was safe and met their needs. Staff told us they received regular supervision and support to assist them to deliver care that was relevant to meet people’s needs. We observed that people received support around their personal care and nutritional needs.

We observed that people were encouraged to remain independent and were encouraged and supported to access activities they enjoyed within the home. People were supported to take part in their preferred hobbies and interests, such as reading the newspaper, playing games, and completing puzzle’s.

We found that the service was well led and the staff were supported and experienced to do their job well. The registered manager and staff monitored and reviewed the quality of care by asking people and their relatives to complete questionnaires to give their views and opinions about the service. There were systems in place to obtain people’s views about the service. These included residents and relatives meetings to identify, plan and make improvements to the service. The registered manager promoted an open culture at the home, and relatives told us they felt able to approach the manager at any time to discuss any concerns.