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What the CQC found at SignHealth Longley Road

Outstandingpublished 14 January 2026, 8 months ago

Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.

The latest report, explained

What inspectors found, January 2018

SignHealth Longley Road was rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, caring and personalised support, with Outstanding practice in effective care.

Inspectors made an unannounced visit on 7 November 2017. Two inspectors, a British Sign Language and English interpreter, people using the service, staff, healthcare professionals and a relative contributed to the inspection. They also reviewed care plans, medicines records, staff files, complaints and management records.

The home supported up to six deaf people with mental health needs. Inspectors found people were safe, and that risks, medicines, staffing, infection control and safeguarding were managed well. Staff could communicate in British Sign Language and understood people's communication, health and cultural needs.

Care was person centred. People were involved in decisions, had pictorial care plans, and were supported with independence, activities, healthy choices and healthcare. The home was rated Good in Safe, Caring, Responsive and Well-led, and Outstanding in Effective.

The overall rating stayed Good, the same as at the previous inspection. The Effective rating also remained Outstanding.

What inspectors praised
  • Strong communication

    The home employed staff who were fluent in British Sign Language and understood the practical and cultural barriers faced by deaf people.

    “The service continued to focus on recruiting staff who were fluent in BSL to ensure effective communication at all times.” from the report
  • Personalised care

    Care plans covered people's health, wellbeing, mental health, social needs, preferences and goals. They were available in pictorial form to support understanding.

    “Care plans were person centred and in pictorial format, enabling people to understand, review and develop the care they received.” from the report
  • Support for independence

    People were supported to make choices, cook, manage daily living skills, attend college, take part in activities and self-administer medicines where suitable.

    “People were supported to self-administer medicines where appropriate.” from the report
  • Good staff development

    Staff had a detailed induction, regular training, supervision and appraisals. Their skills were matched to the needs and interests of the people supported.

    “People continued to be supported by staff members that had access to comprehensive training to further their knowledge and enhance their skills.” from the report
  • Respect and dignity

    Staff respected people's privacy and choices, including asking permission before entering their private accommodation. The home also supported equality, diversity and personal identity.

    “People's right to privacy and dignity was encouraged and respected.” from the report
What inspectors were concerned about

Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.

Questions to ask them, based on this report
  1. 01How many staff currently use British Sign Language fluently, and how will communication be supported if a fluent member of staff is unavailable?
  2. 02How often will my relative's pictorial care plan and risk assessments be reviewed, and how will changes be shared with all staff?
  3. 03How are staffing levels adjusted when people's needs change or staff are absent?
  4. 04What activities, education and community opportunities are currently available, and how are people's preferences used to plan them?
  5. 05How are people supported to manage or self-administer medicines safely, where this is appropriate for them?

This was an unannounced inspection covering all five key questions and the overall quality of the service. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 January 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.

The story over the years

Every inspection of SignHealth Longley Road

2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.

  1. January 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed Good
    Safe: GoodEffective: OutstandingCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good

    Read what inspectors found at SignHealth Longley Road →

  2. December 2014Good
    Safe: GoodEffective: OutstandingCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good

    We are reading this report · the original is on cqc.org.uk

  3. October 2013

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  4. July 2012

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  5. January 2011

    Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 19 January 2011.

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.

Next steps

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