The inspection took place on 15 and 18 October 2018. The first day of our inspection visit was unannounced. We announced to the provider we would be returning to the home on the 18th October 2018 to complete the inspection.

Leonard’s Croft 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.

Leonard’s Croft is registered to provide personal care and accommodation for a maximum of eight people who may have a learning disability, autism and /or complex needs. At the time of our inspection there were five people living at the home. The home is divided up into five flats and three individual bedrooms.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.”

A registered manager was in post and was present at the time of lour inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they 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.

Storage of people’s medicines was not always appropriate to ensure best practice was followed. Medicated creams needed to be stored in a separate medication cabinet. When people had their as necessary “PRN” administered it was not always recorded with dates and times on the back of the MAR sheet. Therefore there was an increased increase people would not receive their medicines safely. We were given assurances this would be addressed immediately by the registered manager.

People's individual risk assessments were reviewed and updated to take account of changes in their needs. Staff knew how to recognise and report any concerns to keep people safe from harm.

People were supported by staff who knew how to reduce the risk of infections and people were complimentary about how clean the home environment was.

There was evidence of organisational learning from significant incidents and events. Formal complaints were rare and responded to in line with the provider’s complaints policy. Any informal concerns were handled effectively with learning taken to continually improve care.

Staff worked well together in a mutually supportive way and communicated effectively. Training and one to one support systems were in place to provide staff with the knowledge and skills they required to meet people's needs effectively.

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

People were provided with food and drink of good quality which they enjoyed and met their individual needs and preferences. Staff worked closely with local social and healthcare services to ensure people had access to any specialist support they required.

People were provided responsive care and support which met their individual needs. There was a planned programme of things for people to do for fun and interest of their choice. Staff spent time with people on a spontaneous basis chatting about their families and lives. Staff knew people well and had built up trusting relationships.

People, relatives and staff were complimentary about the registered manager and felt the home was well managed. Systems were in place to manage the quality of the care and support people received and drive continuous improvement.