Linden Court

Updated 28 November 2019

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.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by an inspector and an assistant inspector. An Expert by Experience also supported us. 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

Linden 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.

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.

What we did before the inspection

Before the inspection we reviewed all the information we already held for this service. This included previous inspection reports, notifications which are important events the service are required to tell us about. and any feedback received about 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.

During the inspection

We spoke with eleven people who used the service and five relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four care staff and the company’s regional manager, the medication lead, the registered manager, the deputy manager, the activities coordinator, the cook, and the team leader,

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at one staff file in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We also spoke with three health care professionals.

Updated 28 November 2019

Linden Court is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to 46 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 50 people. The service provided accommodation on ground floor and first floor accommodation and had generous grounds and internal communal space. The service provided residential care, and nursing care was provided by the district nursing services. Some people were living with dementia.

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

The service was well managed, and people were supported to continue to access the community and have support and care around their individual needs and interests. The service employed staff in line with people’s needs and this was kept under review. Staff supported people, but this was a limited resource particularly in terms of activity hours which meant people said they could not always go out safely when they wanted to. We have made a recommendation about this.

Staff were open, accountable, and ensured people were put first. A positive culture meant people and staff were valued and respected increasing their well- being and taking full account of their human rights. The registered manager had experience and confidence. They trusted their staff to make decisions and to be accountable for the care they delivered.

People were involved and consulted, and the service continuously developed to be the best it could be.

Staff were kind and compassionate and management effectively supported their staff team and empowered them to develop personally and professionally. There were robust systems in place in terms of staff recruitment, training and support which helped them to retain staff.

Risks to people were effectively managed. People lived in an environment with was conducive to their well being and supported their independence.

Staff were mindful of people needs and supported them to stay well and healthy. People were able to access the health services they needed. Exercise programmes helped reduce risks to people of developing pressure ulcers and improved people’s mobility and dexterity. People received their medicines as required.

People living with dementia or other cognitive impairment were well supported because staff received training and the organisation had clear polices in line with providing good dementia care.

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.

The last rating for this service was Good. The last report was published (23/03/2017.)

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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