Archived: Orchard Leigh

Orchard Leigh is a supported living service and is a part of the Thornleigh Camphill Communities charity. Camphill is an international movement of communities in which disabled people can live and work. This service provides care and support to people living in four separate supported living settings, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support. There were 21 people receiving the regulated activity of ‘personal care’ from Orchard Leigh at the time of the inspection.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

There was a registered manager in post at the service. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run

This home was registered under a new legal entity on 22 September 2017, when the provider changed the legal name of the company. There has been no change to the ownership or management of the home despite the change in legal entity. At the last inspection in June 2016, under their previous registration, the service was rated Good. This was our first inspection since registration of the new legal entity and at this inspection we found the service was Good.

Staff were exceptionally compassionate and kind, and were highly motivated to offer person centred care. People and relatives we spoke with told us, staff were outstandingly caring. Staff went over and above their role to ensure people were receiving a high level of service provision and did not become isolated due to the rural location of the service. The principles of respect, dignity, compassion and, equality and diversity were fully embedded in the service. People were treated as equals regardless of age, gender or personal beliefs.

The provider had anticipated that people would require a different service provision as they became older and worked innovatively to ensure Orchard Leigh could remain their home for life.

People received safe care and treatment. Staff had been trained in safeguarding and had a good understanding of safeguarding policies and procedures. The administration and management of medicines was safe.

There were sufficient numbers of staff working at the service. There was a robust recruitment process to ensure suitable staff were recruited.

The risk posed to people had been assessed and suitable action had been taken to minimise the risk posed to people using the service. Where people had suffered an accident, themes and trends had been analysed, and action had been taken to ensure people were safe and plans put in place to minimise the risk of re-occurrence.

Staff had received training appropriate to their role. People were supported to access health professionals when required. They could choose what they liked to eat and drink and were supported on a regular basis to participate in meaningful activities.

People were supported in a personalised way that encouraged them to be as independent as possible. Choice was promoted at all times and the service was working within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA). People were given information about the service in ways they wanted to and could understand.

The service was responsive to people’s needs. Care plans were person centred to guide staff to provide consistent, high quality care and support. Daily records were detailed and provided evidence of person centred care. Where required, people were supported to make decisions about end of life care which met their individual needs and preferences.

The service was well led. People, staff and relatives spoke positively about the registered manager. Quality assurance checks were in place and identified actions to improve the service. The registered manager sought feedback from people and their relatives to continually improve the service. There was a positive culture throughout the service which focused on every individual being an equal contributor to the overall Camphill community.