Enter and view: Leecroft House

Healthwatch Barnet conducted an Enter and View visit to Leecroft House, a supported housing service for adults with mental health difficulties, on 21 September 2022. The visit involved discussions with staff, management, residents and a family member to assess the quality of support provided. 

Overall, the report found Leecroft House to be a very well-run service that actively supports residents both with their day-to-day needs and with preparing for independent living. The service was described as clean, welcoming and homely, with residents, staff and management frequently referring to it as a “family” environment. 

Staff were found to have positive relationships with residents and were described as caring, approachable and respectful. Residents reported feeling supported and valued, while a relative said their family member was treated as an adult and appeared to be well cared for. Staff turnover was low, morale was generally good and the manager was viewed as visible and supportive.

The service provides individualised support through key worker sessions and care plans focused on residents’ personal goals, such as increasing social engagement, finding employment or moving towards independent living. Staff were praised for taking a flexible and person-centred approach, often meeting residents informally to discuss progress and wellbeing. 

Residents had access to healthcare services including GPs, dentists and psychiatric reviews. However, staff expressed concerns about limited access to wider mental health support, particularly therapeutic services. They felt there was often insufficient support available to prevent relapse and that residents’ psychological needs were not always adequately addressed beyond medication.

Activities within the home were well regarded. Regular activities included cooking groups, movie nights and Pets as Therapy sessions, which residents particularly enjoyed. Monthly outings were organised, such as trips to London Zoo, but financial pressures had reduced opportunities for larger excursions. Residents and staff expressed disappointment that popular trips to Butlins and the seaside were no longer affordable. 

The report highlighted the challenges of filling one vacant bedroom in the home. Staff believed this was partly due to inappropriate referrals involving people whose needs exceeded what the service could safely support, as well as the fact that some prospective residents were put off by shared bathrooms and living spaces. Healthwatch felt the quality of the service was not adequately reflected in its online information and promotional materials. 

Leecroft House was found to place a strong emphasis on helping residents develop independence. Residents were supported with cooking, budgeting, household responsibilities and preparing for future moves into independent accommodation. Staff also helped residents access community activities and maintain social connections. 

Residents reported feeling safe in the home and valued the open, relaxed atmosphere. There were regular community meetings, opportunities to give feedback and mechanisms for raising concerns or complaints. The family member interviewed described the service positively and had “not a bad word” to say about it. 

Healthwatch concluded that Leecroft House provided high-quality support characterised by a strong staff culture, respectful relationships and a commitment to residents’ independence and wellbeing. The report's recommendations included improving online information about the service, exploring ways to reinstate popular holiday trips, reintroducing more face-to-face staff training, increasing resident responsibilities to further promote independence, and streamlining administrative paperwork to allow staff more time with residents.

In its response, Richmond Fellowship accepted the recommendations, outlined plans to improve website information and face-to-face training, confirmed ongoing work to reduce paperwork, and clarified that some resident responsibilities were already in place. The organisation also explained that financial pressures currently limited the return of longer residential trips but stated that it would continue exploring options with residents.