Langold View

Updated 5 January 2022

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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by two inspectors.

Service and service type

Langold View is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a 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.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service a short period of notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small, and people are often out, and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since registration. We sought feedback from the local authority and Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England.

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-

During the we spoke with three people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with care staff, the deputy manager, the registered manager and the operations manager. We observed staff interacting with people within their own apartments and also in outside areas.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records, medication administration records and the daily notes recorded by care staff. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures and training records.

After the inspection

We contacted two relatives relative and one was able to give their views about the quality of care and support provided to their family member. We also emailed six health and social professionals to gain their views of this service. We received three replies. We emailed other staff not present at the inspection and received four replies.

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.

Updated 5 January 2022

About the service

Langold View is a residential care home providing personal care to five people who have a learning disability and/or autism. The service can support up to eight people. The home is separated into two separate buildings with up to four people living in their own apartments in each building. Each apartment contained their own living space, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. There are some communal areas for people to use and to meet and socialise with others.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting some of the underpinning principles of Right support, Right care, Right culture.

Right support:

• Model of care and setting maximises people’s choice, control and independence. Each person had their own separate apartments. The home was located in a town with easy access to the local community. There was also access to public transport routes to enable people to travel further away from their home if they wished.

Right care:

• Care and support was person-centred and promoted people’s dignity, privacy and human rights.

Right culture:

• Ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of leaders and care staff ensured people using services lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives

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

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.

People were provided with care and support that reduced the risk to their safety. Risks to their safety were assessed and acted on with no unnecessary restrictions made on their lives. Staff understood how to identify, act on and report any allegations of abuse or neglect. There were enough staff in place to provide people with safe care and support and also to enable people to lead active and meaningful lives.

People’s medicines were well managed. People were protected from the risk of the spread of infection. This included safe COVID-19 practices. Accidents and incidents were investigated. Staff had received training to help reduce the risk and effect of behaviours that may challenge.

People received care and support that met current best practice guidelines and adhered to relevant legislation. People’s care and support was provided in line with the characteristics of the Equality Act 2010. Staff were well trained and received supervision of their practice. A small number of supervisions were overdue for some staff.

People were supported to make wise food and drink choices. The effect of poor choices was communicated to them in a way they could understand. Staff worked with other health and social care professionals to provide care and support for people. A health and social care professional praised the way staff facilitated a person’s smooth transition to living at the home. People had access to healthcare where needed. People were supported with attending these appointments and the reasons why they were important were explained.

People’s apartments and communal areas had been developed to promote inclusivity and access for all. 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.

Staff were kind, caring and compassionate. They had people’s best interests at heart. People were supported to make decisions about their care and support needs. People’s privacy was respected, independence encouraged, and they were treated with respect and dignity. We observed positive interactions between staff and people.

Care and support was person-centred. People were encouraged to lead active lives, to be part of their local community and to meet others to reduce the risk of social isolation. People’s goals were encouraged, and their progress was tracked to ensure positive outcomes. People received information in an accessible format that did not discriminate. People felt complaints were handled appropriately. End of life care was not currently provided. There had been minimal discussion with people about this subject. The registered manager acknowledged this was something that they needed to address.

Staff felt able to approach the registered manager with any concerns. The registered manager was knowledgeable about the regulatory requirements of their role and they felt supported by the senior management. Staff were encouraged to provide feedback about how the service could be improved and/or developed. Success was recognised and rewarded. Quality assurance processes helped to identify any areas of concern but also things that were working well. The registered manager was knowledgeable, experienced in the provision of learning disability care and support and people and staff liked and respected them.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 1 November 2019 and this is the first inspection.

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.