Longacre Care Home Limited

Updated 20 November 2018

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 was 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 29 October 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Before the inspection we checked information that we held about the home and the service provider. This included information from other agencies and statutory notifications sent to us by the registered manager about events that had occurred at the service. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about by law. We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection we spoke with three people who lived at the home and three relatives. We spoke with three care staff and the registered manager.

We received feedback from a local authority commissioning team regarding their ongoing monitoring of the service. We spoke to a Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN) from a local community mental health team.

We spent time observing the care and support people received in communal areas of the home. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI) which is a way of observing care to help us understand the experiences of people who could not talk with us.

We looked at the care plans and associated records for four people. We reviewed other records, including the provider’s internal checks and audits, staff training records, staff rotas, accidents, incidents, records of medicines administered to people and complaints. We looked at staff training records and staff supervision records.

Updated 20 November 2018

This inspection took place on 29 October 2018 and was unannounced.

Longacre Care Home Limited is a ‘care home.’ People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The home is registered to provide accommodation and nursing or personal care for up to 30 older people living with dementia, physical disabilities, and mental health needs. At the time of the inspection there were 20 people living at the home.

Longacre Care Home Limited is a detached property in a suburban area of Worthing. It has been adapted from a domestic house and has been extended. There were two passenger lifts so people can access the first floor and corridors had sloping floors rather than steps for those with mobility needs. All bedrooms were single apart from one which could be used as a double. Twenty bedrooms had an en suite toilet. People were observed using communal areas, which included two conservatories which people used for activities plus a lounge – dining room. There was a garden which people said they enjoyed using.

At our last inspection we rated the service Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

We made a recommendation following our last inspection on 29 January and 5 February 2016 for action to be taken to ensure people had access to a range of personalised activities and to address social isolation for those who remained in their rooms. The provider had taken action to address this and we found the provision of activities for people had improved.

People and their relatives said they were satisfied with the standard of care provided. For example, one relative said, “the care is good. The staff are fantastic. Nothing is too much trouble.” Another relative said, “It’s a lovely home. No faults at all.”

The provider ensured safe care was provided to people. Risks to people were assessed and measures taken to mitigate these. The premises and equipment were safely maintained. Action was being taken to address fire safety matters as required by the fire and rescue service. Sufficient numbers of care and nursing staff were deployed to meet people’s needs. Checks were made to ensure staff were suitable to work in a care setting. Medicines were safely managed. The home was clean and hygienic. Incidents or accidents were reviewed and action taken to reduce the likelihood of any reoccurrence.

The provider and management team ensured current guidance and legislation was followed regarding people’s care and treatment. Staff were well trained and supervised. The staff felt supported and valued.

People’s nutritional needs were assessed and people were supported to eat and drink. There was a choice of food. Health care needs were monitored and referrals made to other services to ensure there was a coordinated approach to people’s care. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were treated with kindness, respect and compassion. Care was individualised and reflected people’s preferences. People’s privacy and dignity were promoted.

People received personalised care which was responsive to their needs. Assessments, care plans and records showed attention to detail in monitoring and responding to people’s needs. The provider identified and met people’s communication needs. The provider had an effective complaints procedure and people and their relatives confirmed there was a good dialogue with the staff and management team so any issues were resolved. Whilst there were no people in receipt of end of life care at the time of the inspection the provider had policies and procedures for this. Staff were trained in end of life care.

The service was well led and provided person centred care. The provider’s values of compassion, care, commitment, competence and communication were prominently displayed and were reflected in the service provision. People and their relatives had opportunities to express their views about the service and were consulted about their care. There were comprehensive audits and checks on the quality and safety of the service with corresponding plans to make changes where this was identified. The registered manager and provider were committed to continuous improvement of the service.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.