Kirkstall Lodge

People were supported by staff, who had the skills and knowledge to provide effective support. Many of the staff team had worked at the service for a long time, so people were supported by staff who knew their needs exceptionally well. People told us how highly they thought of staff and how much they valued having a key worker. A relative confirmed staff were caring and how this made them feel their loved one was cared for in a safe and compassionate way.

People received their medicines when they needed them, and by staff who were trained and competent. However, we identified gaps in medication records and the absence of protocols for medicines prescribed as and when required (PRN), which we have asked the provider to address urgently.

Staff understood their responsibility to safeguard people from the risk of abuse; they were knowledgeable about what concerns they would need to report and to whom.

Risks to people were identified and risk assessments had been carried out to manage and mitigate risks.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control over their lives. Wherever possible, people were at the centre of the planning and review of their support; to help ensure they received person centred care in line with their preferences, choices and needs. We saw on the day that people were consistently offered choices.

People can only be deprived of their liberty to receive care and treatment with appropriate legal authority. In care homes, this can be done through a procedure called the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), which is part of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). We checked whether the service was working within the principles of the MCA and how they managed DoLS within the service. We found that staff and management worked within the MCA. DoLS authorisations were appropriately applied for and overseen. People were not subject to unlawful or excessive restrictions they had choice, control and freedom over their lives. A member of staff confirmed, “People living here have choices every day, we support people in making choices, to do the things they want to do.”

We 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.

People were supported by caring and compassionate staff who promoted choices in a way people understood. We observed staff spoke to people with warmth and dignity. Staff promoted people’s independence in all areas of their life to ensure people lived the life they wanted. A member of staff told us, “We come to work to support our residents to care and support for them as best as we can so they can live their best lives.”