Cornerleigh

Updated 4 March 2026

Date of assessment: 8, 9 and 13 April 2026.

This inspection was undertaken to review progress and assess whether improvements had been made since the last inspection.

We have assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. We found people received care and support in accordance with its principles. At the time of our inspection, there were 10 people living at the service.

We found that people were supported in a way that promoted their rights, individuality and involvement in decisions about their care. Staff knew people well and provided personalised support that reflected their needs, preferences and communication styles. People were supported to maintain relationships, access the community and participate in activities that were meaningful to them, supporting independence and inclusion.

The service had a positive culture where people and staff felt able to speak up and were listened to. There was evidence of partnership working with healthcare professionals and external agencies to support coordinated care. Staff were kind, compassionate and respectful, and interactions observed were positive and person-centred.

However, governance systems were not always effective in consistently identifying and addressing shortfalls across key areas including medicines management, infection prevention and control, environmental safety, Mental Capacity Act compliance and record keeping. While no evidence of harm was identified in most areas, these gaps meant oversight arrangements were not always robust enough to fully assure safe and consistent practice.

The provider had taken some steps to improve since the previous inspection, including strengthening safeguarding processes and staffing arrangements. Leaders were responsive during the inspection and took immediate action where issues were identified.

Updated 4 March 2026

People were positive about living at the service and consistently described feeling safe, supported and comfortable in their day-to-day lives. People told us they experienced care which was personalised, responsive and delivered by staff who knew them well. One person told us, “It’s lovely here” and another person said, “I like it here,” reflecting a generally positive experience of living at the service.

People also expressed confidence in staff and the support they received, with 1 person saying, “I feel safe here” and another stating, “staff know what I need and they help me.” This demonstrated that people felt understood and appropriately supported in meeting their needs.

People told us they were supported to maintain independence, make choices and access the community, which contributed to their overall wellbeing. Staff were observed and described by people as responsive to people’s immediate needs, including recognising changes in presentation or distress and acting promptly to provide reassurance or escalate concerns where required. This helped ensure people felt listened to and supported in the moment, contributing to a sense of security and trust in the service.

Relatives were equally positive about the service and the care provided to their family members. They described the service as welcoming and spoke highly of staff and the overall environment. A relative told us, “It’s very welcoming here. The staff are lovely,” reflecting a positive atmosphere within the home. Relatives also expressed confidence in the consistency of care and their ability to visit flexibly, with 1 stating, “I just turn up randomly and it’s always good,” indicating trust in the service regardless of when they attended.

Relatives also reported positive outcomes for their family members, particularly in relation to emotional wellbeing and presentation. One relative told us, “Whenever I come, [person] always comes across as happy,” suggesting that people were settled, content and benefiting from stable and supportive care arrangements. This was consistent with wider feedback that relationships between staff and people were positive, respectful and based on familiarity and understanding.

Overall, feedback from people and relatives demonstrated that the service provided a positive lived experience. People benefited from safe, person-centred care delivered in a welcoming environment where staff were knowledgeable about their needs, supported independence and promoted emotional wellbeing through consistent and responsive support.