We carried out a review of the data available to us about The Outwood on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about The Outwood, you can give feedback on this service.
We found the following examples of good practice.
We saw clear infection prevention control (IPC) signs reminded everyone at the point of entry and throughout the home about procedures for infection control. We observed staff wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
The home was accessing regular testing for both staff and residents. The service was encouraging visitors, phone calls and skype to family and friends. Wellbeing was high on the services agenda throughout the outbreak for people they support. For example, one person went out to a remote walking place with a staff member for fresh air and space. People also had access to a shop which was made up in the service where people could purchase items and pay for these. The service managed to find and create ways of working throughout the pandemic to make as little disruption to people’s routines as possible.
The service was clean and uncluttered the service completed four daily cleaning touch points in the service to minimise the spread of infection.
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.
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 Learning disabilities and or Mental health conditions. On the day of our inspection 10 people were using the service.
The Outwood is a large home based in Horsforth, in a rural area of Leeds. The main entrance to the home had pictures and the names of staff members so people knew who worked in the service.
This was a Victorian style home with large rooms and ceilings. There were two large lounges in the home, one lounge was often used as a sensory room and they had a box with sensory equipment for people to use. These included lights, different textured items, sensory jigsaw and a foam connect four game. The garden was large with 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 house and attached were two flats 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 regional manager told us, most people were supported by two staff in the community and sometimes in the home dependent upon peoples changing behaviours.
There were door activation systems in place which meant people using the service could only access the kitchen with staff. This helped maintain people's safety.
During the inspection the registered manager told us they were due to change job role. The deputy manager had been acting as the manager and planned to apply to become the registered manager once an appropriate hand over of the service had taken place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC 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. For the purpose of this report, we refer to the deputy manager as ‘The manager’ as they are currently acting as the manager.
People told us they felt safe. We found people were protected from the risk of avoidable harm or abuse because the provider had effective systems in place to manage any safeguarding concerns. Staff received training on safeguarding adults from abuse and understood their responsibilities in respect of protecting people from the risk of harm.
Risk assessments had been developed and contained relevant information. We found that these were in place and had been regularly reviewed. Accidents and incidents were recorded and appropriate action taken to reduce the risk of reoccurrence.
Medicines were stored securely and assessments had been completed on staff to ensure they were competent completing this activity. Medicines were administered correctly and ‘As required’ medicines were managed appropriately with guidance in place for staff to follow.
Safe recruitment processes were in place and had been followed. Pre-employment checks on employees were completed that helped to minimise the risk of unsuitable staff from working with adults at risk. Records confirmed staff received induction training when they were new in post.
Training records confirmed staff had received training on an annual basis and staff told us they felt the training was sufficient to meet people’s needs.
We checked and found the provider was working within the principles of the MCA and all people using the service had a DOLs in place. Best interest decisions also took place and were documented in care plans.
People living at The Outwood were supported to maintain a balanced diet and were regularly offered fluids. If requiring support from health care professionals, this was arranged for people and they were supported to attend hospital if needed.
Care plans included clear instructions for staff which promoted positive working relationships with people using the service.
Care plans were produced to meet people's individual support needs and were reviewed on a regular basis. They looked at peoples preferences for care and offered choice.
People using the service and staff told us they felt confident to make a complaint and these were managed effectively by the manager.
Some people using the service had an advocate in place to support them with any care decisions and staff told us they worked collaboratively with the advocacy services.
Staff and people using the service all had positive relationships with the management at The Outwood. They felt supported and said the managers were present in the service.
Satisfaction surveys and monthly ‘Catch up’ meetings with keyworkers were completed with people using the service to understand their views and to monitor the quality of the service being provided. Actions had been taken when areas for improvement had been identified.
Audits had been completed by the service although not all issues raised in these had completion dates. We saw actions had been taken and that this was a shortfall in the recordings of outcomes. We made the manager aware of this and they planned to update their records.
Notifications had been submitted to CQC as required by legislation.