CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Longridge Court
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People said they felt safe. Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, regularly reviewed risk assessments, safe medicines arrangements and staff who understood safeguarding procedures.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs and choices were reviewed regularly. Staff received training and support, followed health professionals' advice and supported people with food, healthcare, communication and legal consent arrangements.
- Caring?
- Good
- People had positive relationships with staff and were treated with dignity and respect. Staff supported people to express their views, make decisions and become more independent.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Support was tailored to people's needs, communication styles, interests and relationships. People were supported to go out, take part in activities, keep in touch with family and raise complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found that management systems had improved and were being used to monitor quality and safety. The previous breach relating to good governance had been resolved.
What inspectors found, November 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with clear improvement since the previous inspection.
The inspection was unannounced and took place over three days in September 2019. One inspector spoke with people living at the home, a relative, staff and health and social care professionals. They also checked care records, medicines records, staff files and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe recruitment, suitable risk assessments and safe medicines systems. People were treated with dignity and supported to make choices, build independence, keep relationships and take part in activities.
The home had previously been rated Requires Improvement in September 2018. Inspectors found that staffing, care records, risk assessments, staff morale and management checks had improved. A previous breach of Regulation 17 had been resolved, and the home was no longer in breach.
Safe staffing and recruitment
The home had addressed high staff turnover and high agency use from the previous inspection. Inspectors found enough staff with the right skills and experience, with staffing adjusted for planned activities.
“There were enough staff with the right skills and experience to meet people's needs.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans reflected people's individual needs, preferences, communication methods and goals. Keyworkers helped people build trust, make choices and develop independence.
“People were supported to participate in activities they enjoyed and were interested in.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People appeared relaxed with staff and said staff listened to them. Personal care was provided privately, and people's personal space and choices were respected.
“People using the service and the staff supporting them, were valued and listened to.” from the report
Community involvement
People were supported to go out for meals, shopping, day trips, holidays and regular activities. They also maintained relationships with family and friends.
“People had regular opportunities to go out and socialise with others.” from the report
Improved leadership
The provider had acted on the previous inspection findings. Inspectors found better care records, stronger governance checks, improved staff morale and a more stable staff team.
“Good Governance. Enough improvement had been made at this inspection and the provider was no longer in breach of regulation 17.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How many permanent staff currently work here, and how much agency staff is being used now?
- 02How are care plans and risk assessments reviewed when a person's needs or behaviour changes?
- 03How would my relative choose their keyworker, and how would that person help them achieve their goals?
- 04How are communication needs recorded and used during personal care, healthcare appointments and everyday choices?
- 05How are families involved in reviews, complaints and decisions made in their relative's best interests?
This was an unannounced planned inspection that assessed all five CQC areas, with ratings given for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This explanation was written from the published report of 21 November 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.
What inspectors found, September 2018
Rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found kind and responsive care, but records, staffing consistency and management checks needed improvement.
Inspectors visited the home without warning on 17 and 20 August 2018. They spoke with people, staff, relatives and managers. They reviewed care records, medicines, complaints, staff records and quality checks.
People were treated with kindness and respect. Staff understood people's needs, supported choices and provided personalised care. Inspectors also found improvements in medicines management and activities.
The main problems were that some risk records and care plans were not up to date. Staff changes and agency use sometimes affected activities and continuity of care. Checks by managers did not always identify problems or show clearly what had been done.
The overall rating was Requires Improvement. Effective, Caring and Responsive were rated Good. Safe and Well-led were rated Requires Improvement. This was a deterioration from the previous overall rating of Good.
Kind and respectful staff
People appeared calm and confident with staff. Staff adapted their communication and respected people's privacy, dignity and choices.
“People's privacy, dignity and decisions were respected and valued by staff.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's routines, preferences, communication methods and goals. People were supported to make choices and build independence.
“People's care records were centred on their needs and personal preferences.” from the report
Activities and independence
The range and frequency of activities had improved since the previous inspection. People took part in activities such as shopping, swimming and gardening.
“At this inspection we found improvement had been made in the range and frequency of activities being provided.” from the report
Medicines management
Staff were trained and medicines records had no gaps during the inspection. The home had also reviewed its procedures after previous medicines errors.
“Medicines Administration Records (MAR charts) had been completed appropriately with no gaps in the recording of administration on the MAR charts.” from the report
Out-of-date risk and care records
seriousSome care plans did not reflect people's current needs or the support being given. This could make it harder for unfamiliar staff to provide safe care.
“People's care records were not always current and accurately maintained.” from the report
Weak management checks
seriousQuality audits did not always find problems or show clearly what action had been completed. The report says this was a breach of Regulation 17.
“Systems used to monitor people's care and the governance of the service were not always effective in driving improvement.” from the report
Routine health appointments
needs fixingSystems were not effective in making sure people attended regular appointments such as dental and chiropody care.
“Systems to ensure people regularly accessed routine health care appointments such as the dentist and chiropodist were not effective.” from the report
- 01How do you now make sure every person's risk assessment and care plan is current?
- 02How many agency staff are currently being used, and how do you make sure they understand each person's needs?
- 03How do you record cancelled activities and make sure people receive a suitable alternative?
- 04How do you track dental, chiropody and other routine health appointments?
- 05What changes were made after CQC found that audits did not clearly record actions, timescales and responsible people?
This was an unannounced inspection of the whole care home, including accommodation and care, and all five CQC questions were rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 21 September 2018 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 Longridge Court
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- November 2019Goodcurrent ratingup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2018Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- February 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good
- July 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 July 2014.
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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38 live-in carers within about an hour of Gloucestershire
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £1,030 to £1,360 a week. 31 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“She was very caring, kind and patient to all his needs, she built up a wondetful rapport with him, she was dedicated and was there for him through good times as well as through the tough times”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.