CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Leybourne
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that safeguarding, risk management, staffing, recruitment and infection control systems were generally effective. Some medicines recording was inconsistent and the signing system was not robust, but managers responded immediately.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its rating was carried over from the last inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its rating was carried over from the last inspection, although inspectors observed that staff were kind and caring.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its rating was carried over from the last inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found visible and approachable management, an open and inclusive culture, and staff who felt supported. Written evidence of transition planning and family involvement was limited.
What inspectors found, August 2022
Leybourne was rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, caring support, but medicines records and family communication needed improvement.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 20 and 21 July 2022. One inspector spoke with staff, relatives and a professional, observed care, and checked care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
The inspection was carried out because of concerns about a transition, communication and the culture of the home. Inspectors found no evidence that people were at risk of harm from these concerns.
Safe and well-led were both rated Good. Staff understood safeguarding, managed risks, and had enough staff to meet people's needs. The home was described as open, inclusive, homely and caring.
Some medicines recording was inconsistent and the system for signing medicines in and out was not robust. There was also limited written evidence of transition planning and family involvement. The managers acted on these points straight away or agreed to improve them.
People had choice and control
Staff focused on people's strengths and supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The inspection found support was based on people's abilities, choices and best interests.
“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” from the report
Safeguarding and risk management
Staff knew how to recognise and report abuse. Care records were kept accurately and risks in the home and with equipment were checked and managed.
“Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse.” from the report
Kind and caring support
Inspectors found that people received kind support and that the culture promoted respect, openness and inclusion.
“People received support from staff who were kind and caring.” from the report
Visible management
Management was present and approachable. Staff said they felt supported and able to raise concerns.
“Management were visible in the service, approachable and took an interest in what people, staff, family, advocates and other professionals had to say.” from the report
Medicines records
needs fixingSome medicine records were not consistent, and the system for signing medicines in and out was not robust. Managers responded immediately and made improvements, but families should check how these changes are being maintained.
“Some recording of medicines was not consistent, and the system for signing medicines in and out of the home was not robust.” from the report
Communication with families
needs fixingSome relatives and a professional felt communication could be more open and timely. They also said improvements were being made.
“Some feedback from relatives and one visiting professional included that communication could be more open and timelier however they also said improvements were being made.” from the report
Transition planning
needs fixingThere was limited written evidence that families were involved in planning transitions and reviewing care and support. Managers agreed to improve this.
“There was limited documentation of transition planning and involving families in the review of people's care and support.” from the report
- 01What changes have been made to medicine records and to signing medicines in and out of the home?
- 02How do you check that the new medicines arrangements are being followed consistently?
- 03How will our family be involved in transition planning and reviews of care and support?
- 04How will you keep us updated if communication needs to be more open or timely?
- 05What evidence can you show that the improvements discussed after the inspection have been maintained?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings used in the overall Good rating carried over from the last inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 25 August 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, October 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found personalised, safe and caring support, with improvements since the previous inspection.
This was an unannounced planned inspection because the previous rating was Requires Improvement. One inspector visited on 31 July and 5 August 2019. They spoke with people and staff, observed a meal, and checked care, medicines, recruitment, training and management records.
The home provided personal care for up to eight people with physical or learning disabilities. Seven people lived there at the time. Inspectors found people received personalised support, were treated with dignity, and were helped to make choices and develop independence.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The provider had fixed earlier problems with medicines, complaints and quality checks, so there were no current breaches of regulations.
Personalised support
People received support based on their individual preferences, needs and communication styles. Staff helped people lead their daily lives in the way they wanted.
“People received a personalised service from supportive staff.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were encouraged to make decisions, take part in household tasks and work towards independent living goals. Their preferred ways of communicating were understood and used.
“People were encouraged to make their own decisions and staff understood how people communicated their choices.” from the report
Safe medicines practice
Inspectors found that medicines were received, stored and given safely. Records had improved and gave clearer guidance about medicines taken when needed.
“Staff made sure these were received, stored and administered safely.” from the report
Social lives and activities
People were supported to follow their interests and take part in activities in the local community, helping them maintain relationships and avoid isolation.
“People were supported to live fulfilled lives with a range of social activities.” from the report
Improved management
The provider had made significant improvements since the previous inspection. Inspectors found better quality checks and a more positive, person-centred staff culture.
“There had been significant improvements in the way the service was managed.” from the report
End of life plans not yet complete
minorThe report says plans for people's preferred place of care were still being developed. End of life training and bereavement support for staff were also still being considered.
“The registered manager had plans to develop end of life care plans for people that would include their preferred place of care.” from the report
- 01How are the improvements to medicines records and checks kept under review now?
- 02How will you complete each person's end of life care plan, including their preferred place of care?
- 03What activities and community links would be available for my relative's own interests?
- 04How would staff support my relative to communicate choices if they could not communicate verbally?
- 05How are relatives involved in care planning and kept updated in the way they prefer?
This was an unannounced planned inspection that considered all five CQC questions and both the care and accommodation; it followed a previous Requires Improvement rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 25 October 2019 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 Leybourne
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- August 2022Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2018Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- May 2017
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 12 May 2017.
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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30 live-in carers within about an hour of North Tyneside
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 £950 to £1,130 a week. 26 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Petty introduced herself to Mum every time she was caring for her and responded very quickly to Mum if she was distressed in the night.”
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.