29 January 2018
During a routine inspection
Linden House is a single storey 'care home' for up to 41 older people and adults with physical disabilities. 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. Since the last inspection a new unit for up to 22 people living with dementia had been opened. There were 49 people accommodated in the home at the time of this inspection.
At the last inspection, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.
The service was managed by 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. The registered manager was supported in the day to day running of the home by a general manager and a deputy manager.
Improvements needed to be made to the way medicines were handled in the service. In particular, the recording of when prescribed topical creams were administered needed to be improved.
People told us they felt safe in Linden House and received good quality care. Staff had been safely recruited and there were enough staff on duty to meet people’s needs in a timely manner. People told us staff were kind, caring and respectful of their dignity and privacy.
We observed staff at the home communicating with people in a kind and caring way. People looked relaxed and comfortable and moved around the home freely.
Staff received the induction, training and supervision necessary to enable them to provide safe and effective care.
Care records accurately reflected people’s needs. Staff were knowledgeable about the support people needed as well as people’s preferences in relation to their daily routines.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
Systems were in place to help ensure people’s health and nutritional needs were met. People told us the quality of food was generally good.
The environment had been extended and refurbished to a high standard since the last inspection. A range of technology was used within the home to help ensure people received care that was responsive to their needs.
People were encouraged to provide feedback on the care they received. We reviewed the responses from the most recent survey carried out by the provider and noted a high level of satisfaction had been expressed about all areas of the service.
We found that audits and checks of the service were completed regularly and were effective in ensuring that required levels of quality and safety were maintained at the home.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.