Archived: Longmans Extra Care Scheme

Updated 4 December 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 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 17 October 2018 and was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because the location provides a domiciliary care service. We needed to be sure that they would be in.

The inspection team consisted of one inspector and an expert by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of caring for older people and people living with dementia.

We reviewed the information we held about the service including safeguarding alerts and other notifications. This refers specifically to incidents, events and changes the provider and registered manager are required to notify us about by law.

We spoke with eight people who used the service, three members of support staff, the team leader and the registered manager. We also spoke with one person’s personal assistant who is not employed by Mears Care Limited.

We reviewed four people’s support plans and support records. We looked at the service’s staff support records for four members of staff. We also looked at the service’s arrangements for the management of complaints, compliments, safeguarding information, medication administration records and the provider’s quality monitoring and audit information.

Updated 4 December 2018

The inspection was completed on 17 October 2018 and there were 14 people in receipt of a service at Longmans Extra Care Scheme when we inspected.

Longmans Extra Care Scheme provides 24-hour care and support for up to 14 people in one bedroom flats. The Extra Care Scheme is managed and maintained by South Essex Homes on behalf of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council. The care and support is provided by Mears Care Limited.

Although there had been a change of registered provider since our last inspection in April 2017, this was in name only. The organisation’s ‘nominated individual’ and the registered manager remained the same. 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.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

Suitable arrangements were in place to keep people safe and policies and procedures were followed and understood by the management team and staff to safeguard people. Risks to people were identified and managed to help people lead the life they wanted. The domiciliary care service was appropriately staffed to meet the needs of people using the service. Medication practices were safe and ensured people received their prescribed medication as they should. Recruitment procedures were followed to ensure the right staff were employed. People were protected by the service’s arrangements for the prevention and control of infection. Arrangements were in place for learning and making necessary improvements when things go wrong.

Staff had a thorough induction to carry out their roles and responsibilities effectively. Staff had the right competencies and skills to meet people’s needs. Suitable arrangements were in place for staff to receive formal supervision at regular intervals. People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible. People told us staff supported them as needed with meal preparation and the provision of drinks and snacks throughout the day. People received appropriate healthcare support as and when needed from a variety of services and professionals.

People told us they were treated with care, kindness, dignity and respect and were supported to maintain their independence where possible. People received a good level of care and support that met their needs. Staff had a good knowledge and understanding of people’s specific care and support needs and how they wished to be cared for and supported.

Support plans were in place to reflect how people would like to receive their care and covered all aspects of a person's individual circumstances. People confirmed there were infrequent social activities provided for them to join in, mainly because of low attendance and people wishing to do their own thing. Information about how to make a complaint was available and people told us they were confident to raise issues or concerns.

Suitable arrangements were in place to assess and monitor the quality of the service provided. There was a positive culture within the service that was person-centred, open and inclusive. The service sought people’s views about the quality of the service provided and these were positive.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.