Background to this inspection
Updated
21 December 2023
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
The inspection was carried out by 1 inspector, a bank inspector, and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Service and service type
Longfield Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Longfield Care Home is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
Registered Manager
This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.
At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
Inspection activity started on 15 November 2023 and ended on 29 November 2023. We visited the service on 20 November 2023.
What we did before inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with 4 people who used the service and 11 family members. We spoke with 14 staff including the registered manager, the deputy manager, housekeepers and kitchen staff, care staff, team leaders, and the lifestyle coordinator. We also spoke with a visiting professional.
We reviewed a range of records. This included 10 people’s care records and medicines records and 3 staff recruitment files. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were also reviewed. We received email feedback from 5 health and social care professionals.
Updated
21 December 2023
About the service
Longfield Care Home is a residential care home providing accommodation with personal care for up to 40 people. The service provides support to older people and people with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 39 people using the service.
People’s experience of the service and what we found:
People and their family members were very complimentary about the service and told us they were happy with the care provided.
Risks to people's health and welfare were identified and assessed. Safeguarding processes were in place to protect them from abuse and harm. Lessons were learnt when things went wrong.
People’s support needs were met by enough staff who were recruited safely. Infection control was promoted, and medicines were managed well.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People told us staff had the necessary skills to support them. Staff said they felt supported by the management team, enjoyed the training provided and were supported to develop their knowledge and qualifications.
People were supported to eat and drink well and able to choose how they spent their time. Care plans were written in a person-centred way showing dignity and respect to people. People could choose the gender of the staff who supported them.
The provider continually assessed the premises, and all health and safety checks were completed. People had access to ample communal and garden areas and their bedrooms were personalised.
Staff worked very collaboratively with health and social care professionals to support joined up working which benefitted people’s health and wellbeing.
People said staff were compassionate, kind, and caring, treated them as an individual and listened to their views and opinions. People’s end of life wishes and preferences were discussed, and staff were trained to support people in a dignified way.
Complaints were investigated promptly, and people and their family members told us they could speak up. There were meetings and frequent contact with people, their family members, and staff to get their views. Feedback was collated and shared and used to improve the service.
The management team were well thought of among staff and people who used the service. The registered manager monitored the quality of care in the service and the provider’s systems supported them to manage this effectively and to a high standard.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for the service was Good published on (27 June 2017).
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.