20 and 21 October 2014
During a routine inspection
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.