Ernest Luff Homes

Updated 15 August 2019

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector 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 [older people and those who have a dementia related condition].

Service and service type

Ernest Luff is a care home which is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to 28 older people. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced and took place on 3rd July 2019

What we did:

Before the inspection, we reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included details about incidents the provider must let us know about, such as abuse; and we sought feedback from the local authority and other professionals involved with the service. The registered manager completed a Provider Information Return. Providers are required to send us key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During our inspection visit, we spoke with three people using the service, six staff and the registered manager. No relatives visited the service on the day of inspection but had contributed comments to the service quality monitoring questionnaires. We observed the support provided throughout the service. We looked at records in relation to people who used the service including four care plans and medication records. We looked at four records relating to recruitment, training and systems for monitoring quality.

Updated 15 August 2019

About the service:

Ernest Luff is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to people who were predominantly aged 65 and over. The service specialises in providing care for older people, some of whom were living with dementia. The service is a purpose-built care home providing private rooms and communal space and gardens for people. The service can support up to 28 people. At the time of this inspection there were 25 people using the service.

People’s experience of using this service:

People who lived at the home, relatives, staff and healthcare professionals told us Ernest Luff had a homely atmosphere and a strong emphasis on the importance of family and community connections.

There was a positive atmosphere within the service. People and their relatives were enabled to be involved in the care and staff were motivated in ensuring people were treated as individuals and had an enjoyable life.

Risks associated with people's care and support had been appropriately assessed and managed. People told us they felt safe living at the service and with the staff team who supported them. The staff team were aware of their responsibilities for keeping people safe and had received the relevant safeguarding training.

Medicines were stored, administered and disposed of safely. Staff followed the providers policies in reducing the risk of cross infections and regular checks were undertaken to make sure people lived in a clean environment.

Staff had developed positive, respectful relationships with people and were kind and caring in their approach. People's privacy and dignity were respected by staff who worked to a set of values around providing care centred on each person. People were supported and encouraged to be as independent as possible in all aspects of their lives.

People told us staff concentrated on what was most important to them and made sure they received the care they needed and preferred. People were supported to take part in a programme of planned and spontaneous activities which they found interesting and fulfilling.

The staff team including the chef supported people to eat and drink enough which helped people to remain well. Staff anticipated people's care needs and responded to people swiftly, respectfully and with warmth.

People were valued for who they were and supported with compassionate care at the end of their lives in ways they preferred.

Staff felt a strong sense of ownership and pride in the service and felt well supported by the management team. There were enough staff to meet people's care and support needs. Staff had been recruited safely and many of the staff team had worked at the home for several years which was valued by people living there.

Plans of care had been developed and reviewed with people and their relatives, and the staff team knew people they were supporting well. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.

The registered manager was a positive role model and together with their staff team they had a passion to learn about and aim for best practice with people at the heart of their care. People who lived at the service and all staff were actively encouraged to contribute to the evaluation of the care provided and recommendations of where they could aim higher to drive through improvements. Regular quality audits and checks were completed so improvements were continually recognised and there was effective follow up action which made sure people received a good-quality service.

Rating at last inspection: Good (Inspection report published in January 2017)

Why we inspected: This was a scheduled inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.

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