The Legard

Updated 23 February 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check 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 11 and 16 January 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of two adult social care inspectors.

The provider had completed a provider information return (PIR). This is a form which asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used this to help plan our inspection. Prior to the inspection, we also reviewed information we held about the provider.

We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who were unable to speak with us.

We spoke with two people who used the service, two relatives and two visiting healthcare professionals. We also spoke with the registered manager, two senior care staff and two care staff.

We reviewed two people’s care records, looked at four staff files and reviewed records relating to the management of medicines, complaints, training and how the registered manager and provider monitored the quality of the service.

Updated 23 February 2018

The Legard is registered to provide care and accommodation for eight adults who may have learning disabilities and physical disabilities. Accommodation is provided over two floors with lift access. There are eight single bedrooms, four assisted bathrooms, two kitchens, a sensory room and lounges. The building has been designed to cater for the specific needs of people with physical disabilities. This includes spacious living areas with access to people using wheelchairs and overhead tracking for hoists in bathrooms and bedrooms. There is a large accessible enclosed garden area to the rear of the building and car parking at the front of the property.

Local amenities for example, shops, local public house are within walking distance of the service. Two adapted vehicles are available for people’s use.

At the last inspection in January 2016, the service was rated Good. At this inspection, we found the service remained Good.

People who used the service were supported by sufficient numbers of staff who understood the importance of protecting them from harm. Staff had received training in how to identify and report abuse. A robust recruitment and selection process was in place that ensured prospective new members of staff had the right skills and were suitable to work with people who used the service.

Staff had a good understanding of people’s needs and were kind and caring. We saw people were comfortable in the presence of staff and had developed good relationships with them. People were treated with dignity and respect and were involved in decisions about the way their support was provided. Friends and relatives were welcomed by the service.

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.

Assessments were carried out to ensure people were protected from potential harm and staff took steps to minimise risks without taking away people’s right to make decisions.

Staff had a good understanding of systems in place to manage medicines and to ensure people received them safely.

The service had an open and inclusive ethos and people’s relatives and staff were positive about the way it was managed. Feedback was sought from people who used the service through regular ‘residents meetings’ and feedback forms. This information was analysed and action plans produced when needed. Advocates were accessible for people.

Relatives and healthcare professionals confirmed that staff were caring and looked after people’s health and nutritional needs well. People were provided with the care, support and equipment they needed to stay independent.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.