The Outwood

Updated 29 January 2022

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of COVID-19, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practice is safe and that services are compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 24 January 2022 and was announced. We gave the service one-day notice of the inspection

Updated 29 January 2022

About the service

The Outwood is registered to provide accommodation for adults under 65 years of age who require nursing or personal care and have a diagnosis of a learning disability and or a mental health condition. On the day of our inspection 10 people were living in the home.

The Outwood is a large home based in Horsforth, in a rural area of Leeds. It had a large garden which contained swings, trampolines and a designated planting area for people who enjoyed gardening. There was also a smoking shelter.

There were eight bedrooms in the main building. There were two flats attached to the main building which included kitchenettes and were used for people that were more independent. Rooms were very individual and people decorated these as they wished to make it their own.

The 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.

People’s experience of using the service

People were supported safely and protected from harm. There were systems in place to reduce the risk of abuse and to assess and monitor potential risks to people.

The management of medicines was safe. Risk assessments had been completed and analysis was used to identify trends and themes to reduce future risks. Incidents and accidents were managed effectively; lessons were learned to prevent future risks.

There were enough skilled and experienced staff to meet the needs of people who used the service. Staff recruitment procedures were robust. Staff completed a comprehensive induction and training programme.

People were well cared for by staff who treated them with respect and dignity. People were involved in decisions about their care. People's right to privacy was maintained by staff.

Staff understood people’s likes, dislikes and preferences and people were offered choices about their care.

Where required, people were supported to have enough food and drink to maintain a good diet and their health needs were regularly monitored. Staff followed the advice health care professionals gave them.

Staff understood their responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive was possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

A complaints system was in place and complaints were managed effectively. Relatives told us they knew how to complain if needed.

The provider had embedded quality assurance systems to monitor the quality and safety of the care provided. People were asked for their views and their suggestions were used to improve the service.

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 the service was good (published September 2017)

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection.

Follow up

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