Archived: Longfield Manor

Updated 14 January 2021

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 Care Act 2014.

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 two inspectors 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.

Service and service type

Longfield Manor is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or 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.

The service did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. The new manager was in the process of applying to CQC to become the registered manager of the service. The registered manager 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.

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 and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with seven people who used the service and eight relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with eleven members of staff including the chief operating officer, manager, clinical lead, assistant manager, registered nurses, senior care workers, care workers and the chef. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We reviewed a range of records. This included eight people’s care records and multiple medication records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We sought feedback from five professionals who had experience of working with the service.

Updated 14 January 2021

About the service

Longfield Manor is a residential care home and provides personal and nursing care for up to 60 people. At the time of inspection, 28 people were living at the service in three separate wings. People were aged 60 and over and lived with a range of mental health and physical health needs including age related frailty, diabetes and degenerative conditions such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease.

The building was purpose built over two floors. The building and courtyard garden were fully accessible, and the first floor was accessed by a lift. One of the wings specialised in providing care to people living with dementia.

Longfield Manor is owned and operated by the provider Sussex Healthcare. Services operated by the provider had been subject to a period of increased monitoring and support by local authority commissioners. As a result of concerns raised, the provider is currently subject to a police investigation in relation to incidents that occurred between 2016 and 2018. The investigation is on-going, and no conclusions have yet been reached. These investigations do not include Longfield Manor.

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

There was not an adequate process for assessing and monitoring the quality of the services provided and ensuring that records were accurate and complete. People’s epilepsy was not always managed safely, and we have made a recommendation to the provider about this. Processes for clinical oversight were not robust to identify discrepancies with people’s medicines.

The service was welcoming, and people told us that they felt safe. They said there were enough staff to look after them and they were listened to and treated with kindness. Systems were in place to protect people from the risk of abuse and improper treatment and staff knew how to identify potential harm and report concerns.

Positive and caring relationships had been developed between staff and people. People were treated with kindness and compassion and staff were friendly and respectful. People and their relatives spoke positively about staff and the care they received. People were treated with dignity and respect by a kind, caring staff.

Since the last inspection a new manager has been appointed. The new manager commenced in September 2020 and are in the process of registering with the Care Quality Commission to become the registered manager for the service.

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.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 7 May 2020) and there was a breach of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection enough improvement had not been made and the provider was still in breach of regulations.

The service remains rated requires improvement.

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 17 and 18 February 2020. A breach of legal requirements was found in relation to Regulation 17, Good Governance. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when, to improve their governance processes.

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe and Well-led which contain those requirements.

The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has remained as requires improvement. This is based on the findings at this inspection. This is the fifth consecutive inspection where the service has been rated requires improvement.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Longfield Manor on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Enforcement

We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection.

We have identified a continued breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 in relation to Regulation 17 , Good governance.

Full information about CQC’s regulatory response to the more serious concerns found during inspections is added to reports after any representations and appeals have been concluded.

Follow up

We will request an action plan for the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information, we may inspect sooner