Lyncroft Care Home

Updated 28 June 2022

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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

This inspection was undertaken by one inspector 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. Their area of expertise was caring for older people and people living with dementia. Another inspector undergoing induction was present, but did not take part in the inspection itself.

Service and service type

Lyncroft Care Home House is a ‘care home’ without nursing care. People in care homes receive accommodation and personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. is a care home. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

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 commissioners of the service, the local authority safeguarding team and a health professional who works with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke nine people and three relatives. We also spoke with nine staff including the area manager, registered manager, deputy manager, senior care staff, care staff, catering and housekeeping staff. We observed people's care where they were not able to speak with us.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records, risk assessments and medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were also reviewed, including incident records, compliments, quality assurance processes and various policies and procedures.

What we did after the inspection

We continued to review records we requested after our site visit associated with people's care and support.

Updated 28 June 2022

About the service

Lyncroft Care Home is a two-storey adapted residential care home. People have access to communal areas including accessible gardens and outside facilities. The service provides support for up to 53 people, including to younger adults and older people, some of whom lived with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 47 people using the service.

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

Staff knew how to recognise signs of harm, and to whom they could report these when needed, such as the registered manager or the local safeguarding authority. All those people and relatives we spoke with felt people were kept safe.

Risks were identified and managed well which helped keep people safe. Trained and competent staff administered and managed people's medicines safely, and as prescribed. Enough suitably skilled staff had been safely recruited. The service and the staff team took on board learning when things went wrong and staff followed infection prevention and control guidance and good practise.

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.

Following incidents reported to us in March 2022 there had been a change of registered manager. The provider investigated incidents and took appropriate actions.

Monitoring and oversight of the service was effective in identifying and driving improvements. The current registered manager led by example and had fostered an open and honest staff team culture. They understood their responsibilities to report incidents to the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Staff received appropriate support to provide people with good quality and safe care.

People, relatives and staff had a say in how the service was provided. The provider worked well with other organisations, to provide people with joined up care.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

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 the service was Good, published on 15 January 2019.

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part by notification of a number of specific incidents, following which some people using the service were not safeguarded from harm. These incidents are subject to a criminal investigation. As a result, this inspection did not examine the circumstances of the incidents. The information CQC received about the incidents indicated concerns about the management of Lyncroft Care Home. This inspection examined those risks.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from these concerns. Please see the Safe and Well-led question sections of this full report.

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.