Lynde House

Updated 14 March 2023

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 Care Quality Commission (CQC) communication and engagement manager.

Service and service type

Lynde House 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.

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 on-site inspection was carried out over two days and the first day 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 (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 in-person with 14 people who lived at the care home, 3 visiting relatives, a GP, a community physiotherapist, the registered manager, a regional director, the deputy manager, 4 nurses, 2 care practitioners, 3 health care workers, a hospitality manager, an activities coordinator, and the chef. We also received email feedback about the care home from a community-based nurse.

We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

Records looked at as part of this inspection included 6 people’s care plans and multiple staff files in relation to their recruitment, training and supervision, and electronic medicines records. A variety of other records relating to the overall management and governance of the service, including policies and procedures, were also read.

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We requested the provider send us additional evidence after our inspection in relation to staff training and supervision, and the outcome of an internal audit and an external medicines check.

Updated 14 March 2023

Lynde House is a residential care home that can provide nursing and personal care for up to 76 people. At the time of our inspection 73 people were living at the care home. The building comprises 2 separate units/floors, each with their own adapted facilities. The service provides support to older people with nursing needs, approximately half of whom are living with dementia.

People’s experience of using this service

People living in the care home, their relatives and community health and social care professionals were all positive about the standard of care provided at Lynde House. A community health care professional told us, “I would recommend the place to anyone who needed nursing care”, while another added, “I’ve always found the standard of care provided by all the staff who work here to be very high”.

People were kept safe and were confident any concerns they raised would be listened to. Staff understood how to safeguard people. People were cared for and supported by staff who knew how to manage risks they might face. The premises were kept hygienically clean and staff followed current best practice guidelines regarding the prevention and control of infection including, those associated with COVID-19. Medicines systems were well-organised, and people received their prescribed medicines as and when they should. The service was adequately staffed by people whose suitability and fitness to work at the care home had been thoroughly assessed.

Staff had the right levels of training, support and experience to deliver effective care and meet the needs of people living at the care home. People had access to a wide variety of food and drink that met their dietary needs and wishes. People were helped to stay healthy and well. 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 lived in a suitably adapted and comfortable care home that had been decorated and furnished to a good standard.

People were treated equally and with compassion, and had their human rights and diversity respected. Staff treated people with respect and dignity and upheld their right to privacy. People were encouraged and supported to maintain their independence. People were encouraged to make decisions about the care and support they received and had their choices respected.

People had up to date, detailed, person-centred care plans in place, which enabled staff to understand and meet their needs and expressed wishes and preferences. Staff ensured they communicated and shared information with people in a way they could easily understand. People were supported to participate in meaningful recreational and leisure activities that reflected their social interests. People's concerns and complaints were well-managed, and the provider recognised the importance of learning lessons when things went wrong. People were supported to maintain relationships with people who were important to them. Plans were in place to help people nearing the end of their life receive compassionate palliative care in accordance with their needs and expressed wishes.

People living at the care home, their relatives and staff working there were all complimentary about the way the service was managed, and how approachable the staff in-charge all were. The provider promoted an open and inclusive culture which sought the views of people living at the care home, their relatives, community health and social care professionals and staff working there. The provider worked in close partnership with various community health and social care professionals and agencies to plan and deliver people's packages of care and support.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was good (published 20 January 2020).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

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.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect. If we receive any concerning information, we may inspect sooner.