Stoneleigh House

Updated 17 March 2022

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 Care Act 2014.

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 completed by two Inspectors.

Service and service type

Stoneleigh House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

Inspection activity started on 19 January 2022 and ended on 3 February 2022.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority. 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. This information helps support our inspections. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We communicated with four people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. Some people who used the service were unable to talk with us and used different ways of communicating including Makaton, photos, symbols, objects and their body language.

We spoke with seven members of staff including the registered manager, the deputy manager, and care staff.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at multiple staff supervision documents. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We spoke with the HR manager and looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and induction. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at quality assurance records. We spoke with two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with two professionals who regularly visit the service.

Updated 17 March 2022

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

About the service

Stoneleigh House is a residential care home providing personal care to people with learning disabilities and autism. At the time of the inspection there were four people living there. The service can support up to four people.

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

Right support

People told us they felt safe. One relative told us; “I have no concerns about [my loved ones’] safety.” Another said; “I don’t have to worry about [my loved one]. We saw the home was clean, staff wore appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). People were supported by sufficient levels of suitably trained staff. People were supported to pursue their hobbies and interests. For example, one person loved to travel and showed us photographs of a recent holiday.

Right Care

People received kind and compassionate care. People told us they were happy living at Stoneleigh house. One person told us; “I like the staff, I like my room, I really enjoyed my day today.” A relative told us; “[My loved one] is happy so I am happy, I don’t have to worry.” A professional who works closely with the service said; [The person living at the service] gets on well with the staff, I think they have a good quality of life.” People’s care plans detailed their needs and wishes and promoted choice, independence, dignity and privacy.

Right Culture

People knew the registered manager and deputy manager well. One person told us they would speak to the deputy manager if they had any concerns. Relatives spoke positively about the registered manager. One relative told us; “[The registered manager] is really good and takes everything on board”. Staff described the registered manager and deputy manager as supportive and available. They told us they were encouraged to seek people’s ideas and opinions to help keep them active and stimulated. Quality assurance checks ensured the service remained safe and effective.

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.

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.

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 August 2017)

Why we inspected

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. This included checking the provider was meeting COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about how restraint was being used by staff. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine the risks. We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the safe and effective sections of this report.

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

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

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

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.