Archived: Littledene House

Updated 7 September 2017

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 5 July 2017 and was unannounced.

The inspection team consisted of one inspector from the Care Quality Commission and an expert by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. Our expert had experience in the support of people with dementia.

Before the inspection, we reviewed the provider’s completed Provider Information Return (PIR) which they sent to us. The PIR is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also reviewed information we held about the service, including the notifications they had sent us. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send to us.

During the inspection we were unable to verbally communicate with people who used the service but we were able to carry out observations on how they were supported throughout the day. We spoke with three relatives of people who used the service, the registered manager, two care staff, and kitchen staff. We looked at the care records of six people and the recruitment and training records for four staff employed by the service. We also carried out observations on how people were provided with care and support and reviewed information on how the provider managed complaints, and assessed the quality of the service.

Updated 7 September 2017

We carried out an unannounced inspection on 05 July 2017.

Littledene House provides accommodation and nursing care for up to 14 people, some of whom live with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 14 people living in the home.

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

The service has a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission 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.

People were supported by staff who were skilled and knowledgeable in their roles. The staff team was highly motivated to improve people’s everyday experiences and outcomes.

Staff learnt different languages in order to overcome obstacles in communication and provided the people they supported with an outstanding care experience.

People were treated with respect and their privacy and dignity was promoted. People and relatives were involved in decisions about the care and support they received.

People were protected from avoidable harm or abuse. Risks to each person had been assessed and managed appropriately. The service followed safe recruitment procedures and there were sufficient numbers of suitably trained staff to keep people safe and meet their needs.

There were safe systems for the management of people’s medicines and they received their medicines regularly and on time.

People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People’s nutritional needs were met and they were supported to have enough to eat and drink. They were seen by their doctors or other health care professionals when required.

People had their care needs assessed, reviewed and delivered in a way that mattered to them. They were supported to pursue their social interests and hobbies and to participate in activities provided at the home.

There was an effective complaints procedure in place.

There were systems in place to seek the views of people, their relatives and other stakeholders. Regular checks and audits relating to the quality of service delivery were carried out.