Longhope Manor

Updated 3 November 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 3 October 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection was completed by one inspection manager.

As part of the inspection process, the local authority were contacted to obtain feedback in relation to the service. We also referred to the statutory notifications submitted to us by the provider. Statutory notifications are sent to the Care Quality Commission by the provider to advise us of any significant events related to the service, which they are required to tell us about by law.

As part of the inspection process we looked at the Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make, in relation to the five domains we inspect. We had received the PIR for Longhope Manor and reviewed this prior to the inspection process.

During the inspection, we spoke with 11 people who lived at the home, and two relatives. We also spoke with the two registered providers, the administrator, the cook and three members of the care staff team.

We looked at three care plans, which included healthcare information, risk assessments and capacity assessments. We looked at medication administration records, three staff pre-employment records and a sample of records relating to the management of the service. This included quality assurance audits, accident and incident records and feedback received. We also looked at the most recent newsletter for people and relatives, the resident guide, and the annual satisfaction survey results.

Updated 3 November 2018

There had been a change in registration since our previous inspection in December 2015, and the service no longer provides nursing care. Longhope Manor is now a care home without nursing that provides a service for up to 34 older people, some of whom may be living with dementia. People receive accommodation and personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. At the time of our inspection, there were 24 people living at the service. Longhope Manor is a Georgian manor house with adjoining buildings and provides a choice of single rooms and ten apartment-style accommodation and eight studio apartments. People living at The Manor have access to two lounges, a dining room and large landscaped patio garden. The home is set in three acres of grounds with woodland and a stream.

The service had a registered manager as required, who was also one of the two registered providers. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. Both providers were present during the course of our inspection.

At the last inspection in December 2015, the service was rated Outstanding. At this inspection, we found the service remained Outstanding.

Why the service is rated Outstanding:

The service has not only sustained the outstanding model of care and support provided to people, but built on this and made further improvements both to people's living environment and their social and leisure opportunities. The vision and values of the home were founded on widening and expanding people's experiences and ensuring they could lead fulfilled and enjoyable lives. There remained a strong focus on choice, control, independence and empowerment.

The provision of a new village clubhouse gave people access to facilities including spa treatments educational and recreational classes, use of the internet and also a restaurant for people to book and dine out. People were able to enjoy a range of hobbies and interests, whilst also having the opportunity to develop skills and interests they had not previously explored.

People consistently commented on how happy they were living at Longhope Manor and particularly commented on the lack of restrictions, the staff and providers' attention to detail, and the positive relationships they had with all staff.

There was an inclusive approach at the home which promote equality and diversity through respectful and gentle challenging of people's misconceptions and prejudice.

Further ways of promoting people's independence had been found since our previous inspection. Dignity and respect underpinned the staff and providers' daily practice.

Food, mealtimes and eating well were treated with the utmost importance and people enjoyed variety and choice in their meals and drinks, including how and when they wished to eat.

People continued to receive their medicines safely. Staff continued to be supported in their roles and received ongoing training and development.

The providers were an integral part of the day-to-day running of the home, which enabled them to continually monitor the quality of care provided and also to know everyone living at the home very well as individuals.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.