Archived: Leonora Home

Updated 19 December 2020

The inspection

This was a targeted inspection to review infection prevention control procedures due to the outbreak of COVID-19 at this service.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Leonora Home 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 took place on 27 November 2020 and was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

Before the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service and the service provider. We

looked at the notifications we had received for this service. Notifications are information about important

events the service is required to send us by law. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We observed how staff interacted with people. We looked at all communal areas of the home and some

bedrooms to assess how the infection control procedures were being put into practice. We spoke with a

senior carer, the business manager and three members of the care and housekeeping staff about the infection prevention and control systems.

After the inspection

We reviewed documents relating to infection prevention and control procedures which we requested from

the registered manager following the visit.

We spoke with the local public health team who will shortly be conducting a virtual visit with the service.

Updated 19 December 2020

We inspected this service on the 20 and 21 September 2018 and it was unannounced.

Leonora Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. Leonora Home accommodates 20 people in one adapted building. At the time of our inspection there were 12 people living at the service.

There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

At our last inspection in May 2017, we found one breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. This was because medicines that were prescribed ‘as required’ (PRN) were not managed safely. We asked the provider to complete an action plan to show what they would do and by when to meet the Regulations. At this inspection, we found the service had made the required improvements.

Medicines were managed safely. We observed staff administering medicines and saw their practice was safe. The medicines administration records were completed in full with no unexplained gaps. Protocols for ‘as required’(PRN) medicines were in place with good detail for staff to know when to administer particular medicines.

Risks had been identified, assessed and there were detailed risk assessments in place to keep people safe. There were environmental risk assessments, which identified generic risks, safety measures were detailed and reviewed regularly.

There were sufficient staff available to meet people’s needs. Staff understood their role in keeping people safe and had received training on safeguarding people from harm. The registered manager had carried out the required pre-employment checks before staff started work.

Staff were trained and had opportunity for regular supervision. New members of staff had an induction period where they could learn about the job role. There was a clear staff structure and everyone was aware of their responsibilities.

People had sufficient food and drinks. Feedback from people about the food was very positive, they appreciated the choice and quality on offer.

The premises were kept clean and well maintained. At our last inspection we observed staff wearing gloves in corridors. At this inspection staff did not apply gloves until they were in people’s rooms or bathrooms. The service was a small home that felt very homely.

People were supported by a staff team that knew their needs well. We observed kind and positive interactions. People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.

Care plans were comprehensive and regularly reviewed. There was a ‘key-worker’ system in place, which meant people were allocated a member of staff to work more closely with.

People had been given the opportunity to record their end of life wishes. The service had supported people at the end of their lives with assistance from healthcare professionals.

Activities were varied and provided daily. People had the option to be involved but could also choose to spend time doing their own activity. Visitors were welcomed without restriction.

There were regular meetings for people, relatives and staff and minutes were kept. Surveys were completed so that feedback about the service could be sought. Complaints were managed, recorded and investigated in full.