22 June 2022
During a routine inspection
Leighswood is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 23 people, including people with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 21 people using the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were not always protected from fire risks or the spread of infection. People and staff didn't always feel there were enough staff, although we found people's needs were met in a timely way. Systems were in place to safeguard people from abuse and the provider had established processes for learning lessons when things went wrong.
People were not supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff did not support them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service did not support this practice.
People's needs and choices were assessed and the service ensured people's dietary needs were well met. However, people's oral health needs were not individually documented. The new provider had taken steps to improve the environment for people. People were also supported to access healthcare and external support as needed.
People did not always feel there were enough activities to keep them occupied. However, the records showed a range of activities had previously taken place. The provider had recruited an activity coordinator to establish further activities for people in the future. People's communication needs were considered and catered for. Systems were in place to seek feedback and resolve people's complaints.
Quality assurance systems were not always effective for people. This meant the action taken by the provider had not always ensured people received consistent, good and safe care. The provider was working to improve the systems and processes in place and provide a positive culture for people at Leighswood.
People were supported in a caring and dignified way by staff. We saw people having positive interactions with staff, who sought to comfort and reassure those in distress. People felt staff knew them well and were supportive.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for the service under the previous provider was requires improvement, published on 09 October 2020. This is the first inspection for this service under a new provider.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service. We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.
We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the safe, effective, responsive and well led sections of this full report. The provider took immediate steps to address the concerns identified following the inspection.
Enforcement
We have identified breaches in relation to the how people’s safety was managed, their rights promoted and how the service was run at this inspection. Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.
Full information about CQC’s regulatory response to the more serious concerns found during inspections is added to reports after any representations and appeals have been concluded.
Follow up
We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.