CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Low Laithes
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, May 2021
Low Laithes rated Good; inspectors found safe, person-centred care with a few records and storage issues corrected during or after the inspection.
This was an unannounced, focused inspection on 29 April 2021. Inspectors reviewed whether the home was safe, effective and well-led. They spoke with relatives, staff and professionals, observed care, and checked care, staff and management records.
The home was rated Good overall, with Good ratings for Safe, Effective and Well-led. Inspectors found enough suitably checked staff, person-centred care plans, appropriate training, safe medicines systems and effective management oversight.
A bathing support plan did not include all relevant risks, and one paraffin-based cream was not stored safely. The manager addressed both points. Annual staff appraisals had also slipped during the COVID-19 pandemic, although they were being planned.
The overall rating stayed Good, as it had been at the previous comprehensive inspection published on 9 January 2018. Caring and Responsive were not inspected during this visit, so their previous ratings were carried forward.
Person-centred care
Care was planned around people's individual needs, choices and rights. Staff were trained to support people with autism and specific individual needs.
“Care was person-centred and promoted people's dignity, privacy and human rights.” from the report
Continuity of staff
People were usually supported by a consistent core team. Staffing levels were assessed for individual needs, including one-to-one support.
“People received good continuity of care. Each person was allocated a core staff team, so the same group of staff provided a person's support.” from the report
Staff training
New staff had a structured induction and shadowed experienced staff before working alone. Ongoing training was matched to people's needs.
“New staff received a structured induction program and completed a period of shadowing with an experienced staff member before they began to work unsupervised.” from the report
Healthcare support
People could access health and social care professionals both at the home and outside it. Records were updated when needs changed.
“People were supported to access a range of health and social care professionals externally and on-site.” from the report
Management oversight
The provider used audits, incident data and technology to monitor care and identify possible concerns. Learning was shared across its services.
“The registered provider had an effective system of governance in place to monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service.” from the report
Incomplete bathing risk information
needs fixingOne person's bathing support plan did not include all relevant risks. The manager updated it immediately after the inspection, and inspectors said the issue had not affected the person.
“We asked the registered manager to update one person's bathing support plan, as we felt it did not include details about all risks relevant to the individual.” from the report
Cream storage
needs fixingOne paraffin-based topical cream was not stored safely. The manager addressed this immediately, and inspectors did not find the problem elsewhere.
“We found one occurrence where a paraffin based topical cream was not stored safely.” from the report
Delayed staff appraisals
minorAnnual staff appraisals had slipped during the COVID-19 pandemic. The manager said they were now planned, and staff still spoke positively about management support.
“The COVID-19 pandemic had impacted on the frequency of annual appraisals, but assured CQC these were now planned.” from the report
- 01Has the bathing support plan been fully updated, and how do you check that risk information remains accurate?
- 02What checks are now in place to make sure paraffin-based creams and other medicines are stored safely?
- 03Have all annual staff appraisals that were delayed during the pandemic now been completed?
- 04How will my relative be supported to access nearby shops, activities and the local community from this rural location?
- 05Will my relative have a consistent core staff team, and how is one-to-one support arranged when staff are absent?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe, Effective and Well-led only; Caring and Responsive were not inspected and their previous ratings were carried forward. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 May 2021 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, November 2020
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection prevention and control practice during a coronavirus thematic review.
Inspectors visited the home on 27 October 2020. The visit was announced and focused on infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic.
They found good practice in risk assessments, social distancing, shielding, visitors, admissions, testing, cleaning, PPE and managing possible outbreaks. They said staff training on infection safety and PPE was well embedded.
This was not a full inspection and no quality ratings were awarded. The home was marked as inspected but not rated for safety.
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had arrangements covering visitors, admissions, testing, PPE, hygiene and possible outbreaks.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Staff training
Staff had training in keeping people safe from infection and using PPE. Inspectors said this training was well embedded.
“Through observation and discussions with staff, it was clear training was well embedded.” from the report
Safe layout
The layout supported social distancing and shielding. Room capacity information was displayed.
“Information about the maximum number of people safely permitted in a room at any one time was displayed.” from the report
Family contact
The home kept people and families updated about national guidance and used technology to support contact with family and friends.
“The service utilised technology to encourage people to stay in contact with family and friends.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are the infection prevention and control arrangements described in this report maintained now?
- 02How do you check that staff continue to use PPE correctly and receive appropriate training?
- 03How do you support visits and contact with family and friends when infection risks change?
- 04How do you test people using the service and staff, and what happens if there is a suspected outbreak?
- 05How do you make sure new admissions are safe?
This was an announced thematic review of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; it did not award ratings for the service overall or for the other four questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 21 November 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 Low Laithes
3 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- May 2021Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2020Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- January 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 21 January 2011.
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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Most charge £980 to £1,260 a week. 82 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
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