This inspection took place on 17 and 20 August 2018 and was unannounced. Longridge Court is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Longridge Court provides accommodation and personal care for up to 11 people with a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder. There were nine people living in the home at the time of our inspection. Longridge Court consists of the main house which has six bedrooms and an additional three bedroomed flat on the upper floor. An adjacent annexe has three bedrooms. People had access to a secured outdoor space.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we rated the key question ‘Is the service safe?’ as “Requires Improvement” as we found additional improvements were required to ensure the management and monitoring of people’s risks were continually recorded by staff who were familiar with their needs. We also rated ‘Is the service well-led?’ as “Requires Improvement” as the systems used to monitor people’s care and the governance of the service were not always effective in driving improvement. Therefore the overall rating of the service is "Requires Improvement."

A registered manager was in place as required by the service’s conditions of registration however they were on maternity leave. 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. An interim manager was newly in post and intended to register as a registered manager during their management period.

People benefited from a safe service where staff understood their safeguarding responsibilities. Staff had been trained to recognise signs of abuse and report any concerns to their managers and other relevant authorities. Effective recording systems were not in place to monitor people’s risks. Risks to people’s personal safety had been assessed and plans were in place to minimise these risks. Some risk management plans had not always been updated to reflect people’s current needs and the care they had received to remain safe. Accident and incidents where people had become distressed had been reported.

Due to a recent turnover in staff, the home had used agency staff. However, some people’s care plans were not current and therefore did not provide staff with the information they needed to support people if they were unfamiliar with their needs. On occasions, people’s recreational needs had not been met due to staffing constraints.

People’s privacy, dignity and decisions were respected and valued by staff. People who could make decisions for themselves were involved in the planning of their care and consented to the care and support being provided. They were encouraged to express their choices and preferences about their daily activities. When people’s needs had changed, staff had appropriately referred them to health and social care services. However, people had not always been supported to maintain their health and wellbeing by attending regular health care appointment’s such as the dentist.

People's dietary needs and preferences were catered for and known by the staff. Improvements had been made to the management of people’s medicines to ensure they were managed and administered safely in accordan

This unannounced inspection took place on 1, 2 and 3 December 2015.

Longridge Court provides residential care and support for up to 11 people with a learning disability, autistic spectrum disorder, physical disability or sensory impairment. The service has three separate areas to provide for the scope of people’s needs. Eleven people were accommodated when we completed this inspection.

There was 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.

We observed staff responding to people in a calm and compassionate manner consistently demonstrating respect. Staff knew peoples individual communication skills, abilities and preferences. Staff supported people to choose activities they liked. People had taken part in activities in the community and holidays with staff. A person told us, “Its excellent here, I do gardening, a paper round and go to college. We recommended that people had additional social contacts.

People were supported by sufficient staff and they were able to access the community with them. Staff supported 11 people and there were usually seven staff all day, including the registered manager. Additional staff were deployed for some activities in the community to support people individually. Recruitment checks had been made and we recommended the service considers improvements to the recruitment procedure. People were involved in interviewing new staff during the recruitment process.

People and a relative told us they felt the home was a safe place to be. Staff were trained to identify any abuse and take appropriate action. Individual risk assessments were completed which minimised risk for people helping to keep them safe and independent. All accidents and incidents were recorded and had sufficient information to ensure preventative measures were identified.

Staff were aware of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 to protect people when they needed support for certain decisions in their best interest. Support care plans included people’s mental capacity assessments which showed how choice for each person was displayed by them. Most people made everyday decisions as staff knew how to effectively communicate with them.

A range of social and healthcare professionals supported people. They told us the service was quick to refer people to them when it was necessary. Medicines were well managed and given safely. People’s care plans identified how people liked to take their medicines. People were supported by staff who had the skills and knowledge to meet people’s needs.

Special diets were provided to maintain and improve people’s health and wellbeing. People had a choice of meals but improvements could be made to ensure they were offered more choice in an appropriate format. People and staff usually had their meals together which created a sociable gathering.

People had personalised care plans and staff supported them to be involved in making decisions about their care as much as possible. Additional communication systems may help people know what they were doing each day. People’s care plans and risk assessments were reviewed regularly. There were appropriate complaints procedures in place that included an easy read version for people. Complaints and concerns were taken seriously and used as an opportunity to improve the service.

Quality checks were completed and examples told us that action plans identified where changes were made to address any shortfalls. People were given the opportunity to answer questions about the service in an appropriate way to make sure they were satisfied and were involved in monthly meeting with staff. Relatives, supporters and health and social care professionals were asked fo