Leonard's Croft

Updated 25 April 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

This inspection was carried out by 1 inspector.

Service and service type

Leonard's Croft 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. Leonard's Croft 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 a registered manager in post.

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 who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 1 person and 1 relative of a person who uses the service about their experiences of care, and we observed people’s interactions with staff. We spoke with 6 members of staff, including the registered manager, deputy manager and care staff. The Provider’s Associate Director of Quality also attended the service during the inspection to provide support to the registered manager.

We spoke with 2 external health professionals including a Learning Disability Nurse who worked with people using the service.

We reviewed a range of records, these included 2 people’s care plans and medication records, and elements of other people’s care records. We looked at 2 staff files in relation to recruitment and induction. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 25 April 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

Leonard’s Croft is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 8 people. The service provides support to younger adults living with learning disabilities and/or autism. At the time of our inspection there were 7 people using the service.

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

Right Support

People were supported by staff who recognised and reported the risk of abuse. People’s risks were assessed, monitored, and managed. People were supported by enough staff who were safely recruited to work in the service. People’s medicines were managed safely. There were effective systems to prevent and control infections.

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.

Right Care: People’s care records were person-centred, and their care was tailored to their individual needs and preferences. Processes were in place to record any accidents and incidents and people’s care was reviewed in line with any identified support or need.

Right Culture

People were supported by staff who shared a positive culture which provided them with good outcomes. The provider and staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities. The registered manager understood their obligation under the duty of candour. People and staff were involved and engaged in the service and the provider was continuing to learn to improve people’s care.

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 this service was good (published 22 January 2020).

Why we inspected

We received concerns in relation to safeguarding and staffing. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the safe and well led sections of this full report.

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.

The overall rating for the service has remained good based on the findings of this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Leonard's Croft on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

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