Longview Care Home

Updated 14 July 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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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

One inspector undertook this inspection.

Service and service type

Longview 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 service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

People using the service lacked capacity and were not able to tell us verbally about their experience of living at Longview. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We spoke with seven members of staff including the registered manager, administrator, senior care workers, care workers and housekeeping. We also spoke with a visiting health professional and a relative.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and medication records. We looked at two 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 continued to review and evaluate information collated in the site visit. We spoke with two relatives.

Updated 14 July 2022

About the service

Longview provides accommodation with personal care for up to 28 people living with dementia. There were 27 people using the service at the time of our inspection. The service is in one adapted building over two floors.

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

There were enough staff to meet people's needs and ensure their safety. Appropriate recruitment procedures ensured prospective staff were suitable to work in the home.

The environment was spacious and there was equipment available to support staff in providing safe care and support. Health and safety checks of the environment and equipment were in place.

There were processes in place to prevent and control infection at the service, through access to COVID-19 testing where necessary, additional cleaning and safe visiting precautions.

Systems to assess and monitor the quality and safety of the care provided were in place. They were effective in assessing quality and identifying and driving improvement.

Peoples medicines were managed safely. Staff responsible had the necessary skills to administer medicines. Oversight was in place to ensure medicines were managed safely.

Staff told us that they had received the training they needed to meet people’s needs safely and effectively. The registered manager and administrator maintained oversight of training to ensure staff had the necessary training, knowledge and skills to provide consistent care.

Staff were supported in their roles through a plan of supervision. Staff told us they felt supported by senior staff and the registered manager. A staff member told us, “We are really well supported, and the office door is always open for us.”

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 living at Longview had care plans which detailed their needs and preferences. Staff knew people's care needs well. People were supported to engage in activities.

People were supported to eat balanced diet and drink enough to keep hydrated.

The management team maintained oversight of complaints, accidents and incidents and safeguarding concerns. The management team engaged well with health and social care professionals. The service had clear and effective governance systems in place.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

This service was registered with us on 3 December 2019 and this is the first inspection.

The last rating for the service under the previous provider was Good, published on 9 February 2018.

Why we inspected

This was the first inspection since the provider registered with the commission.

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.