Low Laithes

Updated 27 May 2021

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection team was made up of three inspectors and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Low Laithes 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 was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. 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.

During the inspection

We spoke with 11 relatives about their experience of the service. We spoke with 10 members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, care managers, support workers, kitchen staff, domestics and the administrator. We carried out observations as a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment, training and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training, supervision and quality assurance records. We contacted 21 commissioners of Low Laithes and received feedback from eight professionals.

Updated 27 May 2021

About the service

Low Laithes is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 35 young people with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. The accommodation comprises of self-contained maisonettes, which include a kitchen/dining area, living area and a bedroom with en-suite facilities. The location also has communal areas and a number of activity areas and gardens on site.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

The service continued to provide a good standard of care and the leadership team demonstrated a commitment to continuously improving the service. The registered manager was supportive, responsive and promoted a culture of person-centred care at the service. The registered provider had an effective system of governance in place to monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service.

People's needs were assessed, and care was planned and delivered in a person-centred way, in line with legislation and guidance. People were supported to receive their medicines when they needed them and records showed people had regular access to healthcare professionals to make sure their health care needs were met. People’s nutritional needs were met and the menus we saw offered variety and choice.

Staff were recruited safely and there were enough of them to keep people safe and to meet their care needs. Staff received appropriate training which was relevant to their role and people's needs. Staff were knowledgeable about how to identify and report any safeguarding concerns, which had been reported to the local authority as per the reporting procedure.

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; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

This service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.

Right support:

• The setting at Low Laithes was based in a rural location rather than being community based. People were still able to access community and nearby shops. The location benefited people being able to access the countryside for walks and bike rides.

Right care:

• Care was person-centred and promoted people’s dignity, privacy and human rights. People were supported in the least restrictive way and education and learning was promoted.

Right culture:

• Ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of leaders and care staff ensured people using services were leading confident, inclusive and empowered lives.

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 this service was good (published 9 January 2018).

Why we inspected

We received information of concern in relation to two other services run by this provider. These included concerns to people’s safety, staff culture and governance. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks at all of the provider’s ASC locations, to see if these concerns were repeated. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe, effective and well-led only.

We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection.

The overall rating for the service has not changed. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the safe, effective and well-led sections of this full report.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Low Laithes on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

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