CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Liberty House Care Homes Limited
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home had measures to prevent and manage infection, including visitor controls, testing, social distancing, hygiene and an up-to-date policy.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, September 2020
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection control and found several practical ways the home supported people and visitors during the pandemic.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 19 August 2020. Inspectors looked specifically at infection prevention and control as part of a national coronavirus review.
Inspectors were assured that the home was managing visitors, testing, shielding, social distancing, hygiene and possible outbreaks. They were also assured that the infection control policy was up to date.
The home limited visits, provided masks and planned garden visits in a marquee. Staff supported people to improve their rooms, and the manager isolated with one person for 14 days to reduce the risk of infection spreading.
The home was inspected but not rated. This report does not give an overall quality rating or ratings for most areas of care.
Safer visiting
Visits were limited and visitors were given masks and single-use pens to help reduce infection risks.
“Visitors were required to sign in using single use pens and were provided with masks to minimise the spread of infection.” from the report
Plans for family visits
The home had ordered a marquee so family visits could take place in the garden during poor weather.
“The provider had ordered a marquee to facilitate family visits in the garden for when the weather is cold and wet.” from the report
Supporting wellbeing
Staff helped people improve their rooms during the pandemic, including buying new furniture and supporting room decoration.
“New furniture had been purchased and staff had supported people to decorate their rooms to support their wellbeing during the pandemic.” from the report
Managing isolation
The manager isolated with one person for 14 days to reduce the chance of infection spreading to others.
“When one person was required to isolate for 14 days the manager isolated with the person to minimise the risk of infection spreading to other people or staff.” from the report
Further development suggested
minorInspectors signposted the provider to resources to develop its approach. The report does not describe this as a breach.
“We have also signposted the provider to resources to develop their approach.” from the report
- 01What infection prevention and control changes have been made since the inspection?
- 02How are family visits arranged now, including visits during cold or wet weather?
- 03How would you support my relative if they needed to isolate for 14 days?
- 04How do you make sure people using the home and staff can access coronavirus testing?
- 05What resources did inspectors suggest you use to develop your infection control approach?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; the other care areas were not assessed and the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 2 September 2020 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, April 2019
Liberty House Care Homes Limited was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with one risk assessment needing updating.
This was an unannounced inspection on 10 February 2019. One inspector met five of the six people living there, spoke with staff and a relative, observed care, and checked care records, medicines, staffing, training, complaints, safety records and management checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found people were protected from abuse, medicines were managed safely, staff were trained and people received support that matched their needs.
People were treated with dignity and involved in decisions. They had regular activities, support to develop skills and access to health care. One Legionella risk assessment had not been updated after a new hot water system was installed, but the provider arranged for this to be done after the inspection.
The Good rating means the inspection found the home met the required standards and provided consistently good care at that time. The previous inspection, published in November 2016, had also rated the home Good.
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors saw staff treating people with compassion and understanding. Staff knew people's communication methods, preferences and choices.
“From our observations it was clear staff knew people very well and were aware of their preferences and used this knowledge when supporting them.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were supported to make decisions, access the community and remain independent. The home used pictures and other accessible information to help people communicate choices.
“People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible” from the report
Meaningful activities
Activities took place every day and included education, gardening, crafts, exercise, baking and holidays. Inspectors found these activities helped people develop skills and confidence.
“Activities were provided to people seven days a week and at all times of day including the evenings.” from the report
Good health support
People had health appointments, annual checks and Hospital Passports. The home worked with health professionals and had helped reduce unnecessary medicines.
“People benefitted from having Hospital Passports in place.” from the report
Well-supported staff
Staff received training, supervision and opportunities to gain further qualifications. They told inspectors they felt supported and knew what was expected.
“Staff told us they received effective training and good support from the registered manager, who they told us was always available.” from the report
Risk assessment needed updating
needs fixingThe Legionella risk assessment had not been updated after the hot water system changed. The provider arranged for the work to be completed after the inspection.
“A Legionella risk assessment had not been updated for the service since a new hot water system was put into the service.” from the report
- 01What was the outcome of the Legionella assessment arranged after the inspection, and how is this risk now checked?
- 02How would you support my relative to communicate choices if they have difficulty expressing their needs?
- 03Which activities are available now, and how do you support people to develop their own interests and independence?
- 04How are medicines reviewed with health professionals, particularly if my relative takes several medicines?
- 05How are relatives involved in care reviews and kept informed about changes in health or support needs?
This was an unannounced scheduled inspection of the whole care home, including the premises and care provided, and it assessed all five CQC question areas. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 April 2019 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Liberty House Care Homes Limited
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- September 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Liberty House Care Homes Limited →
- April 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Liberty House Care Homes Limited →
- November 2016Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2014GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 13 December 2010.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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