The Care Quality Commission
  • Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Livingstone House

11 Potter Street, Harlow, Essex, CM17 9AE (01279) 641112

Provided and run by:
Sanctuary Care Limited

Important: The provider of this service changed. See new profile

All Inspections

10 September 2013

During an inspection looking at part of the service

During our inspection in May 2013, we found that care records for people living at Livingstone House were unclear and did not give staff sufficient information to provide the level of care and support required. During our inspection on 10 September we found that this was no longer the case. Care records were detailed and reflected people's individual needs.

3 May 2013

During a routine inspection

When we last inspected this home in August 2012 we found that people living with dementia did not receive care and support that met their needs and protected their rights. Care plans were unclear and did not provide staff with sufficient information about supporting the individual needs of people living with dementia and a learning disability. We judged this had a moderate impact and required the provider to make improvements.

When we inspected on 03 May 2013 we found that care and support was delivered in a way that was appropriate and which met the needs of people living there. Staff had received training in dementia and learning disabilities. Although the staff team knew the people living there very well, care plans still did not have sufficient information about people's specific needs.

Although the person named above was the registered manager, this person was not managing the home at the time of our inspection.

We found that people were asked for their consent to care and treatment and their wishes were respected. Where people did not have the capacity to consent, the provider acted in accordance with legal requirements.

The provider had appropriate systems in place to reduce the risks of infection, including suitable arrangements for hand-washing and for cleaning the environment.

There were sufficient qualified, skilled and experienced staff on duty at all times to meet people's needs.

The provider operated effective quality monitoring processes.

6, 8 August 2012

During a routine inspection

We used a number of different methods to help us understand the experiences of people using the service, because most of the people using the service had complex needs which meant they were not able to tell us their experiences. We spoke with some of the people who lived semi independently in self contained flats in the house. They told us that they looked after their personal care needs themselves, but the staff supported them with practical tasks looking after their flats. People we spoke with told us that the staff supported them to look after themselves, and to go out. One person showed us around their flat. They said, "I can do the things I like to do. I like shopping and buying nerw clothes." Two people told us that they cooked their meals themselves, and others that the staff cooked their meals for them, but they chose what they wanted to eat.

In order to help us understand the experience of the people in the home who could not talk with us, we used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a specific way of observing care, and we spent some time observing people in the main lounge. During the time of our observation the television was on. A few people were watching the programme on television, but most people spent the time looking around, or withdrawn from other people in the room. Some staff came into the room and spent time talking with specific individuals, mostly about their choice for the evening meal. One member of staff spent some time with a person who was not able to communicate, talking to her, and then sitting and holding her hand while she talked with other people in the lounge. However we observed other staff walking through the lounge, and not acknowledging or speaking with any of the people who were sitting there.

We looked at the care plans for people living with dementia who we had observed. The care plans that we saw were unclear and sometimes contradictory, and did not provide staff with information on supporting the individual needs of each person with dementia.

17 October 2011

During a routine inspection

People who use the service have varying degrees of learning disabilities and some people have complex communication problems. Most of the people who were using the service at the time of our visit were unable to tell us about their experiences at Livingstone House.

Those people who could communicate verbally responded positively when asked if they were treated and cared for well and if they were happy. People who could not communicate verbally indicated that they were happy by smiling, using hand gestures or nodding.

We observed that people looked happy and that there was good interaction between people who were using the service and staff.

People with whom we spoke told us that they enjoyed the meals provided by the service. Two people told us that they went shopping to choose food and prepared their meals with assistance from staff. People who could not communicate verbally with us appeared to enjoy their evening meal.