Autumn Leaves UK Limited

Updated 26 April 2018

We carried out this comprehensive inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Autumn Leaves is a ‘care home.’ People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The care home accommodates 20 people in a large detached house. The house has 17 bedrooms, three double rooms (all currently used as single rooms), and 14 single rooms, two lounges and a dining room. There were large accessible gardens.

Before the inspection visit we contacted the commissioning department at the local authority. In addition we contacted Healthwatch Lancashire. Healthwatch Lancashire is an independent consumer champion for health and social care. This helped us to gain a balanced overview of what people experienced accessing the home.

Before our inspection we reviewed the information we held on the service. This included notifications we had received from the registered provider, about incidents that affected the health, safety and welfare of people who lived at the home and previous inspection reports. We also checked to see if any information concerning the care and welfare of people who lived at the home had been received.

We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make

The inspection visit took place on 22 March 2018 and was unannounced.

The inspection was carried out by one adult social care inspector.

During the time of inspection there were 16 people who lived at Autumn Leaves Rest Home. We spoke with a range of people about Autumn Leaves Rest Home. They included eight people who lived at the home, three relatives, a district nurse, the manager and three staff members.

We closely examined the care records of three people who lived at the home. This process is called pathway tracking and enables us to judge how well the home understands and plans to meet people's care needs and manage any risks to people's health and wellbeing.

We also reviewed a variety of records, including policies and procedures, safety and quality audits, three staff personnel and training files, records of accidents, complaints records, various service certificates and medicine administration records.

We observed care and support in communal areas and had a walk around the home. This enabled us to determine if people received the care and support they needed in an appropriate environment.

Updated 26 April 2018

Autumn Leaves Rest Home is a residential care home that can accommodate 20 older people. The home is a detached property that is close to the centre of Bispham Village. There is an accessible garden area, 2 communal lounges and a dining room. There are bedrooms on the ground and first floor of the home. The first floor is accessible via stairs or a passenger lift. At the time of the inspection visit there were 16 people who lived at the home.

There was a registered manager in place. Autumn Leaves Rest Home is a family run home, the registered manager is also the provider and currently provides oversight to her daughter who manages the day to day running of the home.

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

People and their relatives told us staff can not do enough for you, a relative stated, “I go home quite content, knowing the right level of care is provided.”

Risk assessments were updated to ensure people were supported in a safe manner and any identified risks were minimised. Where people had suffered an accident, action had been taken to ensure the on-going safety of the person.

Staff had received training appropriate to their role. Staff had received training around safeguarding and were confident to raise any concerns relating to potential abuse or neglect. The administration and management of medicines was safe. There were sufficient numbers of staff working at Autumn Leaves. There was a robust recruitment process to ensure suitable staff were recruited.

We found that the home had very little staff turnover and that the majority of staff had been employed for a number of years. Staff knew people they supported well and were able to describe what they like to do and how they liked to be supported. The service was responsive to people's needs. Care plans were person centred and provided a clear picture of the persons needs, likes and wishes. Life histories are currently being developed which helped staff to understand the person and communicate more effectively.

People were supported to access health professionals when required. Good relationships have developed between the local GP surgeries and other health professionals.

People could choose what they liked to eat and drink and were supported to be as independent as possible and to participate in meaningful activities.

People and their relatives were given information about the service in ways they wanted and could understand. The information provided at the point someone is admitted into the home makes it clear about the service provided and the level of care a person will receive.

People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.

We looked around the home and found it was decorated to a good standard, clean and homely; however the kitchen requires some refurbishment.

The service demonstrated good management and leadership with clear lines of responsibility and accountability within the management team. Autumn Leaves has been owned and managed by the same family for 30 years.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.