We carried out a review of the data available to us about Leominster Care Home 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 Leominster Care Home, you can give feedback on this service.
We found the following examples of good practice.
¿ Visitors to the home were invited to sanitise their hands, had their temperatures taken and completed a Covid-19 screening questionnaire prior to entering the home. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was available for visitors to use. There was clear information on display on arrival to the home to ensure visitors followed guidance and procedures to ensure compliance with infection prevention control.
¿ People were supported to maintain contact with relatives and friends who were important to them through video, social media and telephone calls. The management team had maintained regular contact with relatives through emails, social media and telephone calls to keep them informed about the wellbeing of their family member.
¿ Staff used a separate entrance to access the home and changed their clothing on arrival. Arrangements had been introduced for staff to appropriately social distance as much as possible, during breaks.
¿ People who had tested positive for Covid-19 self-isolated in line with current guidance; whilst ensuring those people testing negative were kept separate as much as possible for the duration of the isolation period.
¿ Unused rooms had been adapted into additional areas for staff to safely put on (donning) their PPE.
¿ Clinical waste and laundry were handled in line with government guidance.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.
Leominster Care Home accommodates 48 people in one adapted building which is set over two floors. There were 40 people living at the home at the time of our inspection.
Rating at last inspection: At the last inspection the service was rated Good. The report was published 08 November 2016.
Why we inspected: This was a scheduled inspection based on the previous rating..
People’s experience of using this service:
¿ People continued to tell us they felt safe and well supported.
¿ Staff had a good understanding in how they protected people from harm and recognised different types of abuse and how to report it.
¿ Potential risks to people had been identified and people had involved with decisions in how to reduce the risk of harm.
¿ There were enough staff on duty to keep people safe and meet their needs.
¿ People’s medicines were managed and stored in a safe way.
¿ Safe practice was carried out to reduce the risk of infection.
¿ People’s care continued to be assessed and reviewed with the person involved throughout.
¿ People were supported to have a healthy balanced diet and were given food they enjoyed.
¿ People were 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.
¿ Staff worked with external healthcare professionals and followed their guidance and advice about how to support people following best practice.
¿ Staff treated people as individuals and respected the choices they made.
¿ People’s care was delivered in a timely way, with any changes in care being communicated clearly to the staff team.
¿ People were supported and encouraged to maintain their hobbies and interests.
¿ People had access to information about how to raise a complaint. Where complaints had been received, the provider had managed these in line with their policy.
¿ The registered manager was visible in the home, listened and responded to those who lived in the home and the staff who worked there.
¿ The checks the registered manager made to ensure the service was meeting people’s needs focused upon people’s views and experiences.
Follow up: We will continue to monitor the service to ensure that people receive safe, compassionate, high quality care. Further inspections will be planned for future dates.
The inspection took place on 26 August, 1 September and 6 October 2016.
There was a registered manager at this home. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered providers and registered managers 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.
People's safety and wellbeing was promoted by staff. People were encouraged to raise any concerns about their safety. People were involved in decisions about keeping them safe. People's individual risks associated with their care and support were known by staff.
There were sufficient staff to safely meet people's needs. People were cared for by staff who knew how to recognise signs of abuse or harm and what action to take.
People received their medicines safely and as prescribed.
People were supported by skilled and competent staff. Staff received the training and on-going support required to enable them to meet people's needs.
People were encouraged to eat a varied and healthy diet, including fruit and vegetables they had grown themselves. People's views and suggestions were sought about meals and these were used to plan the food provided.
People's health was maintained. People saw a range of healthcare professionals as and when required.
People enjoyed positive relationships with staff. People were involved in decisions about their care. People were treated with dignity and respect and their privacy was maintained.
People's individual preferences were known by staff. Staff adapted to meet people's changing needs.
People were encouraged to maintain their hobbies and interests, as well as take part in a range of in-house social and leisure opportunities.
People's opinions, comments suggestions were valued and acted upon. Where complaints had been made, these had been investigated and action taken.
The registered manager had created a positive and inclusive atmosphere in which people's and staff's views mattered. People had decided on the home's visions and values, which were known and shared by the staff team.
The registered manager and provider maintained oversight of the quality of care provided to people, and sought to continually improve this.
' Is the service safe?
' Is the service effective?
' Is the service caring?
' Is the service responsive?
' Is the service well-led?
This is a summary of what we found.
Is the service safe?
Both the people who lived in the home and their relatives were pleased with the care provided and felt that their views were respected and listened to. The staff worked in a safe and hygienic way and used appropriate protective clothing. There were enough staff to meet the needs of the people living in the home and a member of the management team was available on call in case of emergencies. One person said: 'I feel safe. I would be the first to complain if I saw anything.'
Staff personnel records contained all of the information required by the Health and Social Care Act. This meant the provider could demonstrate that staff employed to work at the home were suitable and had the skills and experience needed to support the people living in the home.
The registered manager and the staff we spoke with understood the importance of safeguarding vulnerable adults, could identify potential abuse and knew how to report any incidents of abuse.
Is the service effective?
People told us that they were happy with the care that had been delivered and their care records were up to date and signed by them. One relative said: 'She is well cared for.' Another relative said: 'If there is anything wrong or they call the doctor they ring me.'
Care records confirmed people's preferences and needs had been recorded and care and support had been provided in accordance with people's wishes. One relative said: 'She was very frail, skin and bone when she came here. Now she is a good healthy weight.'
We heard that information was shared effectively between staff. Several ways of sharing information included daily management team meetings, handovers, the black communications diary, daily records, and monthly reviews.
Is the service caring?
People were supported by kind and attentive staff. We saw that care workers showed patience and encouragement when supporting people. One relative said: 'They are very good.' One person who lived in the home said: 'I consider myself very lucky.'
Is the service responsive?
People's needs had been assessed before they were admitted to the home. Their needs for support and treatment were carefully described so that care workers knew exactly what tasks to undertake. Changes in people's care needs were reported to the team leader and they briefed care staff.
A monthly review of the home had identified a concern about people's call alerts. Staff were briefed to make sure the call buttons were kept in reach. A survey had highlighted that the call system was very noisy so the provider had replaced this system.
Is the service well-led?
Staff had a good understanding of the culture of the home and quality assurance processes were in place. People told us they had received customer satisfaction surveys and we saw evidence that feedback had been acted upon. A meeting for people who lived in the home was held every three months to seek suggestions for any improvements required. Staff told us they were clear about their roles and responsibilities and were well supported. One said: 'I can go to her (the manager) and ask something and she will give me an answer straight away.'
People told us that they felt able to raise any issues with the manager or staff should they have any concerns. Staff spoke of their awareness of how to keep people safe from harm. Staff told us about the training that the home had arranged for them to attend so that they would recognise abuse and how to report it.
People told us that staff were always available when they needed help. They said that the staff were friendly and always acted professionally. One person said, 'Staff are excellent by and large' and another said, 'The staff are very good'.
The provider had developed a system whereby they can monitor how well the home was meeting the needs of the people who live there.
Staff provided health and social care support well. Community services were accessed to support people with when necessary.
People told us that they felt able to raise any issues with the manager or staff should they have any concerns. Staff spoke of their awareness of how to keep people safe from harm. Staff told us about the training that the home had arranged for them to attend so that they would recognise abuse and how to report it.
People told us that staff were always available when they needed help. People's relatives told us that staff were around and available to talk to when they visited. They said that the staff were friendly and always acted professionally. One person said that they were 'Nice, very helpful and always busy' and another said 'I like the staff. They are excellent'.
People we spoke with said their comments were listened to. A visitor said that they would not hesitate to talk to staff if something was wrong. The home's management held regular meetings with the people who use the service to find out what people thought about how their care was delivered.