CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Leigh House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People appeared comfortable and safe, and staff knew how to manage risks, safeguarding concerns and people's health needs. Medicines were given as prescribed, although records for medicines removed for leave needed to be more robust.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had established checks on medicines, health and safety and care planning. Relatives and staff described an open culture, and the manager worked with families and other agencies.
What inspectors found, June 2022
Leigh House rated Good; inspectors found safe, caring support, with a small medicines-record shortfall corrected on the day.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 23 March 2022. One inspector reviewed whether the home was safe and well-led, after CQC received concerns about the registered manager's actions.
The home supported four people at the time, including one person receiving respite care. Inspectors spoke with three people, three relatives and four staff, and reviewed care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
Inspectors found that people appeared safe, comfortable and well supported. Staff understood people's communication and health needs, medicines were given as prescribed, and relatives described an open and reassuring culture.
The overall rating stayed Good. The Safe and Well-led ratings were Good. The other areas were not inspected during this visit, so their previous ratings were carried forward.
Staff knew people well
Staff understood people's personalities, communication needs and health risks. They used this knowledge to provide reassurance and support.
“People were supported by a staff team who knew them and their personalities well.” from the report
People were protected
Safeguarding systems were in place and staff knew how to report concerns. Risks were assessed and guidance was available for specific health needs.
“Risks to people's safety and wellbeing were assessed, recorded and known by staff.” from the report
Positive family relationships
Relatives said they felt informed and confident in the home. Families were involved in care planning and staff shared information about incidents and events.
“Feedback from relatives reflected a positive, open culture at the home.” from the report
Learning and oversight
The manager and provider used audits and checks to identify issues and make changes. Inspectors found examples of learning after incidents.
“There was evidence that learning from events had taken place and changes made to improve people's experience of care.” from the report
Medicines records
needs fixingRecords about medicines removed when people went on leave were not robust enough. The home acted on this during the inspection.
“Records relating to the removal of medicines for leave reasons needed to be more robust and action was taken on the day of inspection to address this concern.” from the report
Rating display
minorThe previous rating was displayed but not prominently. The manager said it would be moved to the main entrance without delay.
“The rating from the previous inspection was displayed at the home, but not prominently.” from the report
- 01What changes were made to records for medicines taken out when people go on leave?
- 02How do you check that medicines records remain complete and accurate?
- 03How are families involved in planning and reviewing their relative's care?
- 04How do staff record and respond to a person's reactions when offering new activities or places?
- 05What systems are used to learn from incidents and check that changes have worked?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 28 June 2022 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, February 2020
Leigh House was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some infection-control concerns to follow up.
This was an unannounced planned inspection on 09 January 2020. One inspector reviewed records, observed care, and spoke with relatives and staff. The inspection looked at all five CQC questions.
The home supported up to five people with learning and physical disabilities. Three people were living there during the inspection. Inspectors found people were safe, supported by trained staff, and helped to make choices and become more independent.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was the same overall rating as the previous inspection, published on 7 September 2017.
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs and safe recruitment arrangements. Medicines were stored, administered and recorded safely.
“People were supported by enough safely recruited staff.” from the report
Personalised support
Staff understood people's individual needs, preferences and ways of communicating. Care plans gave staff detailed guidance.
“People received person centred care and staff understood and met their individual preferences.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people well and supported their privacy, dignity, choices and independence.
“People were supported by caring staff that knew them well.” from the report
Activities and community life
People were supported to maintain relationships, go out and take part in activities they enjoyed.
“Staff were able to support people to go out in the community and take part in activities they enjoyed.” from the report
Open management
Relatives and staff said the management was approachable. The home used audits and feedback to identify improvements.
“The staff and management are very approachable” from the report
Infection-control follow-up
needs fixingRelatives had concerns about how infection was managed when people were unwell. The manager said they would seek advice from an external source, give feedback to relatives and take action, and inspectors planned to check this at the next inspection.
“Relatives told us they had some concerns about management of infection control when people were unwell and planned to discuss these with the manager.” from the report
- 01What external advice was obtained about infection control when people are unwell, and what changes were made?
- 02Has the manager now registered with the CQC, or what is the current position of the application?
- 03How are one-to-one staffing arrangements maintained when staff are absent?
- 04How are communication plans reviewed when a person's preferred way of expressing choices changes?
- 05How will families be involved in discussing future wishes and end of life care?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC key questions; the previous overall rating and all five question ratings were Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 February 2020 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Leigh House
4 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- June 2022Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 11 September 2014.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Staffordshire
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £980 to £1,230 a week. 85 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“We particularly appreciate the companionship Dawn gives in the evenings when she plays cards and Scrabble with my mother.”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.