Longridge Court

Updated 21 November 2019

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 Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

This inspection was completed by one inspector.

Service and service type

Longridge Court 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 service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. The ‘interim’ registered manager had been responsible for driving improvement at the service since January 2019. Their handover to the permanent registered manager was completed on the final day of our inspection. Both registered managers were present during the inspection.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with two people who used the service and one relative, about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with nine members of staff including a director, regional operations manager, the two registered managers, the deputy manager and four support workers. We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care and support records and multiple medication records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We received feedback from two professionals who work with the service. We received feedback from one person’s relative. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.

Updated 21 November 2019

About the service

Longridge Court is a residential care home providing personal care to 11 younger adults with learning disabilities and/or autistic spectrum disorder needs at the time of the inspection. The service is registered to support up to 12 people.

The service was developed and designed before Registering Right Support came into existence. Despite this, the service was managed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

The service was a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties. Six people could be accommodated in the main house, three people in ‘the annexe’ and three people in ‘the view’ (flat above the main house). Each unit was self-contained with its own front door and communal rooms. The building design fitted into the residential area and was in keeping with other large domestic homes in the area. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom or cameras outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff did not wear a uniform when supporting people at home and when accessing the wider community with them.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People felt safe and staff treated them with respect and dignity. People were comfortable and relaxed when interacting with staff and had formed positive relationships with them. One staff member told us, “Because we care about them, we tend to look after them as if they were our family, which they enjoy.” Staff were trained to meet people’s specialist needs and had been recruited safely. Risks to people were managed through person-centred support plans, following guidance from health professionals and regular reviews of people’s needs.

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. When restrictions were needed to maintain people’s safety, for example, when going out into the community, the least restrictive approach was taken. Arrangements made on people’s behalf were made in line with Mental Capacity Act requirements when people could not consent to decisions about their care

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence. People’s wishes and support needs were reviewed regularly, with the staff member they chose to work with. Staff were committed to helping people achieve their goals and to ensuring people’s disabilities did not prevent them from living a fulfilled and happy life. People were supported to participate in activities they enjoyed and were interested in.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on opportunities to gain new skills and become more independent. People who wanted to contribute to life at Longridge Court, for example, by growing vegetables or making drinks for others, were empowered to do so. People enjoyed daytrips out, going out for meals and going to the pub. They had formed relationships with members of the community through regular activities they attended. People were supported to maintain relationships with others who were important to them, through visits and use of the internet.

The service was caring and person-centred. People using the service and the staff supporting them, were valued and listened to. The provider and registered manager understood their responsibilities and monitored the service to ensure any improvements needed were carried out. The registered manager worked openly and transparently with outside agencies.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.co.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was ‘Requires Improvement’ (published 21 September 2018).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.