Linden Lodge

Updated 24 January 2020

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 one inspector.

Service and service type

Linden Lodge 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 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

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with five people who used the service and one relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the registered manager and one visiting health care professional.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and six people’s medication records. We looked at four staff files 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 looked at training data and quality assurance records. We received feedback from a further four relatives via telephone. We also spoke with an additional three support workers and one senior support worker by telephone.

Updated 24 January 2020

About the service

Linden Lodge is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to up to 10 people living with mental health conditions. Linden Lodge is two residential houses adapted into one building. At the time of the inspection there were 10 people living at the service.

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

People gave us examples of ways in which the service proactively supported them to live independently and achieve their goals and aspirations. Relatives also spoke with praise about the exceptional care and support that their relative received and gave examples of how the service continued to positively support their relative, enabling them to successfully lead as independent a life as possible.

People told us that they felt safe whilst living at Linden Lodge and were looked after well by all the support staff at the home. Staff knew how to recognise signs of abuse and who to report their concerns to.

People were supported to access work and activities which considered their hobbies and interests. Some people were also supported to acquire skills and training to further develop in their chosen hobbies and interests.

Without exception, care and support was personalised and was delivered with people as the leaders of their care, guiding staff on how they wished to be supported.

People’s diverse needs and qualities including their protected characteristics were recognised and valued. Support staff knew people well and supported them in ways which were individual to them, their character and their needs.

Risks identified with people’s health and care needs had been assessed and appropriate guidance was available for support staff to follow to support people safely.

Processes were in place to ensure people received their medicines safely and as prescribed.

We observed there to be enough support staff available to support people safely. Recruitment processes were followed and ensured that only those staff assessed as safe to work with vulnerable adults were recruited.

Staff received appropriate training and support to carry out their role and meet people’s assessed needs.

People were supported to maintain healthy lives. People’s dietary needs were known by staff and recorded within their care plans. People were supported accordingly based on their identified needs.

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.

People and relatives knew who to speak with if they had any concerns and were confident their concerns would be addressed and resolved.

We observed support staff to be kind, caring and respectful of people’s privacy and dignity.

Quality assurance systems implemented by the registered manager and provider ensured that the quality of care people received was continually monitored. Where issues were identified these were addressed and further learning and improvements were considered.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 28 June 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

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