Long Close Retirement Home

Updated 1 August 2023

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

The inspection was carried out by 1 inspector.

Service and service type

Long Close Retirement Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Long Close Retirement Home 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 provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

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 reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority service improvement and safeguarding teams. The provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 4 people who lived at Long Close Retirement Home about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 5 members of staff including the registered manager, provider, care workers and the chef. We spoke with 1 health and social care professional who works with the home regularly.

We made observations throughout the day of interactions between people and staff. We reviewed a range of records. This included 2 people's care records and medication records. We looked at 2 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. We made observations of interactions between people and staff, there was laughter and affectionate exchanges.

A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 1 August 2023

About the service

Long Close Retirement Home is a residential care home registered to provide care and support to up to 16 people. The service provides support to older people some of whom were living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 11 people living at the home.

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

People and their relatives told us Long Close Retirement Home was a happy place, care was provided to a high standard. Staff described working at the home as, ‘just being with family.’ People told us they felt safe living at Long Close.

Utilities checks were not always carried out as planned, the provider and registered manager took immediate action and booked in the necessary checks. We received assurances the environment was safe. The registered manager was in the process of reorganising the documentation and office at the home. Risks people faced day to day had been identified and assessed, there were clear instructions for staff for safe ways of working. Staff told us they had enough information to enable them to provide safe care. Recruitment procedures were in place and all necessary checks had been taken to ensure staff were suitable to work with people.

People received their medicines as prescribed. The home was clean and free from clutter, people told us they liked the décor and homely feel of the environment. The provider told us there was a continual redecoration plan for the home. People’s bedrooms were spacious, lounges were well lit and there were various places people could spend their time in the home, as well as access to the gardens and grounds.

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 understood the importance of asking people how they wished to receive their care.

Audits were used to monitor the standard of care within the home, the registered manager told us they were making changes to the programme of audits to use them for continual improvements. Action points from audits were carried out and the registered manager and provider continued to work through improvements. Long Close Retirement Home actively sought feedback on the service it provides. Annual surveys and regular meetings with people and their relatives meant they were involved in how the home operated.

Staff felt appreciated by the provider and registered manager and were complimentary about their colleagues. They told us they were proud to work at the home. Long Close Retirement home worked well with external professionals and we received extremely positive feedback about how the home worked together with health services to ensure people received the best care.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 25 January 2019).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

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.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.