Langdale Heights

Updated 8 December 2020

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.

This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place. As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are conducting a review of infection control and prevention measures in care homes.

The service had been identified for use by the Local Authority as a designated care setting in response to the Winter Plan for people discharged from hospital with a positive Covid-19 status. This inspection was to ensure that the service was compliant with infection control and prevention measures.

This inspection took place on 2 December 2020 and was announced.

Updated 8 December 2020

This inspection was unannounced and took place on 15 June 2018.

Langdale Heights 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.

Langdale Heights is registered to provide residential and nursing care for up to 31 older people living with dementia and/or a physical disability. The home is on three floors with a passenger lift for access. There is a dining room, lounge and conservatory and secluded gardens. On the day of our inspection visit there were 26 people living at the home.

There was a registered manager in post. 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.

Staff treated people with kindness, respect and compassion. They continually engaged with people and made a point of having a kind word or sharing a joke with them as they went about their work. This contributed to the home’s happy and relaxed atmosphere.

The staff team was established and people had the opportunity to get to know the staff supporting them. Staff were knowledgeable about the people they supported and used information about their life histories to enhance their daily lives. For example, staff helped one person to keep up to date with current affairs and another to enjoy their favourite music.

Staff understood the importance of supporting people to express their views and be actively involved in making decisions about their care and support. People chose what time they got up and when to go to bed and where they had their meals. Staff respected people’s privacy, dignity and independence.

People told us they felt safe at the home and staff were knowledgeable about how to keep them safe from accidents and incidents. People had risk assessments in place which staff followed to increase their safety. During our inspection we saw staff providing people with safe and appropriate assistance to make their way around the home and gardens.

Staffing levels at the home were satisfactory and people did not have to wait if they needed support. Records showed staff were safely recruited, in line with the providers’ staff recruitment policy, to ensure they were safe to work with people using care services. The providers’ health and safety compliance manager carried out audits of the home and took action to ensure the premises and equipment were safe to use. All areas of the premises were clean and fresh.

People’s cultural needs were met and staff had a good understanding of equality and diversity and how to provide non-discriminatory care and support. Staff had the training they needed to provide effective care. All staff completed a range of training courses including health and safety, moving and handling, and safeguarding. The providers and managers were keen for staff to develop their skills and learn new ones.

People told us they enjoyed their meals at the home and had a varied diet with plenty of choice. If people had any dietary requirements or preferences staff ensured these were met. People were referred to dieticians if they needed specialised support with their nutrition and records showed staff followed their advice.

People saw GPs and other healthcare professionals when they needed to. Staff worked closely with visiting health care professionals to ensure all their healthcare needs were met. Staff were trained in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and understood the importance of people consenting to their care and support.

Activities were central to people’s lives at the home and the providers had invested time and resources into ensuring people had varied opportunities for exercise, hobbies, and entertainment. Regular activities included monthly kickboxing sessions, which staff said were enjoyed by people of all ages, visiting entertainers, hair and beauty sessions, singing, and charity baking. People chose and looked after the home’s pets including a rabbit, fish and birds.

The home was well-led and staff said they had confidence in the providers and managers to support them to deliver high-quality care. The providers and manager carried out regular surveys to find out what people, relatives, and professionals thought of the home and whether any improvements were needed. The results of these showed a high level of satisfaction with the service.

There were effective systems in place to monitor the quality of the service. These included a series of audits carried out by the providers and managers covering all aspects of the home. Records showed that the home’s audits led to improvements being made where necessary. The staff worked closely with the local authority, the NHS, and other health and social care professionals to ensure people’s needs were met.

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