Leabrook House Nursing Home

Updated 31 May 2023

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors and a nurse specialist advisor.

Service and service type

Leabrook House Nursing Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Leabrook House Nursing Home is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post. At the time of the inspection, the manager at the service had not yet sought to register with CQC but intended to do so.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

Due to technical problems, the provider was not able to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR). A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection

We spoke and spent time with 8 people and spoke to 4 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 3 professionals who have contact with the service. We spoke with 12 members of staff including the manager, deputy manager, catering manager, an activity coordinator and 8 members of nursing and care staff. We reviewed a range of records. This included 5 people's care plans, a range of medicine administration records (MAR) and 3 staff recruitment files. We viewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service including audit systems. We spent time observing the care that people received within the home.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.

Updated 31 May 2023

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

About the service

Leabrook House Nursing Home is a care home providing personal and nursing care to up to 40 people, including people with physical disabilities or learning disabilities. At the time of the inspection there were 34 people using the service.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Right Support

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were assessed so any potential risks were identified, and steps taken to keep them safe. Systems in place safeguarded people from abuse and staff were knowledgeable about how to support people safely.

People were protected from harm, for example through infection control measures and safe management of medicines.

Right Care

People did not always experience caring, person-centred care. Whilst some staff interacted positively with people, staff members were sometimes task orientated in their approach due to staffing pressures. People sometimes spent long periods of time without meaningful interaction with others.

The service promoted people’s independence and scheduled activities were organised for people. People's health needs were well managed and the service worked in partnership with other agencies to promote people's health and wellbeing.

Right Culture

Systems and processes were in place to promote a positive culture at the home. However, further improvements were required to boost staff morale, which would positively impact people’s experiences.

Practices at the service were audited to monitor quality of the care people received and areas of improvement were identified. There was good communication with other agencies to ensure people’s needs were met.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 1 July 2022) and there were breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about alleged abuse and neglect of people and allegations about the cleanliness of the home. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

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 found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concerns. However, we have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the effective, caring, responsive and well-led sections of this full report.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.