Archived: Longview House

Updated 9 December 2015

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check 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.

This inspection took place on the 3 & 10 September 2015. The visit on the 3 September was unannounced and was carried out by two social care inspectors. The visit on the 10 September was announced and was carried out by one social care inspector.

We observed the support people received and spent the majority of our time speaking with eight people who use the service. In addition, we spoke with the registered manager and five members of staff. We looked at the care records of three people, staff recruitment and training records and records relating to the management of the home.

A person who used the service showed us around the service’s shared living areas and the garden. In addition they showed us around the shared kitchens and explained what arrangements were in place for the preparation of meals.

Updated 9 December 2015

This was an unannounced inspection, carried out on 3 & 10 September 2015.

Based in a residential area of Huyton, Longview House provides support for people to manage their mental health. The service operates a three stage approach with three separate living areas within the building. The three stages support people to move from receiving full support to semi-independent and finally independent living. Staff are available 24 hours a day to support people when needed. Ten people were using the service at the time of this inspection.

The service has a registered manager. 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.

The last inspection of Longview House was carried out in October 2013 and we found that the service was meeting all of the regulations we assessed.

People were protected from abuse and the risk of abuse. People who used the service clearly understood how they should be cared for by the staff. In the event of having a concern about their or another person’s safety, people told us that they knew who to speak to.

Systems were in place for the safe management of people’s medicines. Policies and procedures relating to the safe management, administration and recording of medicines were readily available to staff. A designated medicines room was available for the safe storage and administration of people’s medicines.

People showed us around the service and told us that the shared lounge and dining room had recently been re-decorated. A number of people told us that they were in the process of visiting local shops to choose new furnishings and curtains for their bedrooms.

People explained that they had a set budget everyday to purchase their food. One person told us more money was available if needed and that some people chose to go to the supermarket and others chose to use the local shops to buy their provisions.

People who used the service told us that the staff that supported them were well trained to do their job. Staff told us that they felt they received appropriate training for their role. In addition they told us that they received regular supervision from their line manager.

Staff told us that their role included ensuring that people’s privacy and dignity were promoted and maintained. We saw that people had a clear understanding of their rights to privacy and dignity.

People told us that they were encouraged by staff to maintain contact with their family. Other people said that their families visited on a regular basis and that staff always gave them privacy when they had visitors. A small private lounge area was available for people to receive their visitors or speak with staff in private.

People told us that physical exercises were promoted to keep people fit and healthy. For example, football and badminton matches were organised against other teams in the local area, including those run by other services.

Regular opportunities were available for people to comment about the service they received. For example, people had the opportunity to comment to the registered provider about the service via feedback forms that were available within the home. In addition, people met on a weekly basis with their keyworker and fortnightly ‘community’ meetings were held for people to get together and discuss the service.

Quality assurance systems were in place to ensure that the service was safe. In addition the registered provider carried out spot checks on the service and regular health and safety audits. Any actions from the registered provider’s spot checks and audits were documented and acted upon.