Leighton House Retirement Home Limited

Welcome to our summary of the latest inspection report for Leighton House Retirement Home, located in Rochdale, which provides personal care for up to 30 older people and was supporting 25 residents at the time of our visit in February 2022. This targeted inspection specifically focused on infection prevention and control practices during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as checking on any potential staffing pressures. The overall findings highlight that while the home demonstrates many strong infection control practices and manages daily risks effectively, inspectors also identified a few specific areas requiring prompt improvement to ensure maximum safety for residents, families, and staff members alike.

When looking at how the home keeps people protected, inspectors found that regular testing protocols for both staff and residents were properly in place, all employed staff members were fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and the physical environment throughout the facility was kept clean, well-maintained, and hygienic with established cleaning schedules and audits. However, the report noted a couple of important safety points that needed attention: one staff member was observed not wearing their face mask appropriately, and visitor entry processes needed to be more robust to prevent infections from being brought inside. In response to these findings during the visit, the registered manager immediately implemented additional visitor measures and updated the infection control policy.

Regarding how effectively the service operates, the management team actively maintained regular contact with the local authority and specialized infection control teams, and they had suitable risk assessments, policies, and procedures ready to manage COVID-19 risks. The service successfully met the legal requirements regarding staff vaccination, followed current shielding and social distancing rules, and managed safe admissions into the home.

In terms of the caring nature of the service, systems were actively maintained to ensure that relatives could regularly visit their family members living at the care home in accordance with current government guidance, helping to keep important personal connections alive during challenging times.

For responsiveness, the provider had practical measures in place to mitigate potential risks associated with COVID-19 related staff pressures, ensuring the home continued to function without major disruptions to daily care.

Finally, in relation to leadership and management, the registered manager demonstrated a proactive approach by listening to feedback during the inspection and immediately taking action to update policies and introduce additional preventative measures at the entrance of the home.