Leighton House

Updated 29 March 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.

This was an announced inspection and was conducted by one adult social care inspector on the 26 and 27 February 2018.

We requested and received a provider information return. This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and any improvements they plan to make. We used this information to help with planning the inspection.

Before our inspection visit we reviewed the information we held about the service. This included notifications the provider had made to us. Notifications tell us about any incidents or events that affect people who use the service. We asked the local authority and Healthwatch Rochdale if they had any concerns about the service. No concerns were raised.

We spoke with two people who used the service, two relatives, the registered manager and five care staff members.

During our inspection we observed the support provided by staff in communal areas of the home. We looked at the care and medicines administration records for three people who used the service. We also looked at the recruitment, training and supervision records for three members of staff, minutes of meetings and a variety of other records related to the management of the service.

Updated 29 March 2018

Leighton House offers short-term support and accommodation for up to five people over the age of 18 who have a learning disability or Autism. They provide respite to parents and carers of people who are cared for in their own home. Admissions to the home are usually planned but the service can also be provided if an emergency arises. Leighton House is adapted to meet the needs of profoundly disabled individuals. There are a number of communal areas including two lounges, an accessible kitchen and a garden. There is parking and access to a local bus route nearby. There were three people accommodated at the home on the days of the inspection.

At the last inspection of October 2015 the service were in breach of Regulation 12 for unsafe administration of medicines. The service sent us an action plan on how they would improve. We saw that at this inspection the improvements had been made.

Staff were consistently kind, caring and supportive and although most often they only supported people for a short period of time had developed positive relationships with people who used the service and their families.

The views of people who used the service were sought regularly using people’s own individual communication methods.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. Staff also supported family members, for instance the service could take people if there was an emergency to ensure their care was maintained. Staff tried as much as possible to ensure that when people came into the service they followed their routines and activities they normally did at home.

The registered manager and staff understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and worked to ensure people's rights were respected.

Staff were supported to undertake their roles and had incentives to perform better. Staff also received induction, training and supervision relevant to their roles. This ensured they had sufficient knowledge to meet people’s needs.

Managers at the home and head office audited systems to help maintain and improve performance.

There were safe systems in place for the storage and disposal of medicines. Staff received training in how to administer medicines and had their competency in this area assessed.

People received individual care packages which took account of their needs which were mainly a learning disability or Autism. Staff were trained in the care of people with these conditions and how to safely de-escalate any behaviours that challenge. There was also the provision of equipment such as track hoists for people with mobility issues.

People were able to raise their concerns which were acted upon by the service.

People were able to attend activities of their choice which were suitable to their age, gender, culture, ability and religion.