Archived: Lynwood Care Home

22-26 Grosvenor Road, Paignton, Devon, TQ4 5AY (01803) 551581

Provided and run by:
Lynwood Residential Care Limited

All Inspections

12 October 2011

During an inspection looking at part of the service

A number of people who live in the home have dementia and therefore not everyone was able to tell us about their experiences. To help us to understand the experiences people have we used our SOFI (Short Observational Framework for Inspection) tool. The SOFI tool allows us to spend time watching what is going on in a service and helps us to record how people spend their time, the type of support they get and whether they have positive experiences.

During our visit we spent fifty minutes observing people in the lounge. We noted that people who initiated conversation with staff, or who were more able to interact and respond, received more attention. They showed a more positive state of wellbeing. We observed the chef come into the lounge and speak to one person who had not received a lot of interaction. They brightened up straight away. We observed that three people were dozing as there was nothing to stimulate their interest.

We also observed some good interactions when a staff member sat down and spoke nicely with one person, and encouraged two people to take part in a game.

We saw interactions that were less respectful. We observed one person say 'Where do I put this?'. Staff were trying to get the television to work and did not respond. We heard staff using phrases that did not show respect for the person such as, 'He's a lovely old dear really'; 'She's a big lady, I can't carry her'. We heard staff say, 'lunch is coming soon alright' in quite an aggressive tone.

We spoke with one person who had not been feeling well. They told us that the staff had got them some medicine to make them feel better. They were happy and enjoyed their food at the home.

During our observations, not everyone had access to a drink at all times whilst sitting in the lounge, despite care plans stating that people should be encouraged to drink. People with limited mobility who were sitting in the lounge did not have access to a call bell when staff were not in the lounge.

The home is currently the subject of a safeguarding investigation due to concerns, relating to the care and welfare of the people who live in the home, being raised. The investigation is being carried out by Torbay Care Trust (TCT). The Local Authority have stopped placements at this home. Since 16 September 2011, Torbay Care Trust has been sending their own support staff into the home three times a day to monitor that people who live there are kept safe.

27 February 2012

During an inspection in response to concerns

The registered manager told us on Monday morning that he had temporarily refused entry to the Torbay Care Trust (TCT) support staff who visit the home twice a day to monitor that people who live there are kept safe.

We were told by TCT that the support staff had been refused entry on Saturday afternoon, Sunday morning and afternoon, and Monday morning. We visited the home on Monday afternoon to ensure that people who live in the home were safe.

We spoke with the registered manager and directors of the company. They told us they felt there had been a breakdown in communication with TCT. We told them that we expected them to communicate with TCT and co-operate with them, in accordance with the safeguarding plan.

During our inspection, we visited the seven people who live in the home. We found that people who lived in the home were safe and appeared to be happy. People told us they felt alright and had enjoyed their lunch.

Following the inspection, we spoke to TCT and told them about our discussions with the registered manager and the directors of the company. TCT told us about the action they had taken. They confirmed that the support staff had been allowed to re-enter the home.

We then spoke again with the registered manager to confirm TCT's recent communication with the home and contact arrangements that had been put in place.

8 February 2012

During an inspection in response to concerns

We received concerns from Torbay Care Trust and a member of the public who told us the home had felt cold.

During our visit to the home, one person said 'I'm as right as rain, I'm warm enough.' We found, on checking, that four other people had warm hands. A relative told us it was 'always warm' when they visited.

When we visited, the registered manager was away on a training course. The directors of the company were contacted, on our arrival, and were available throughout our inspection.

4 August 2011

During an inspection looking at part of the service

An Expert by Experience took part in this inspection and talked to the people who live in the home. An expert by experience has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses a health, mental health and/or social care service.

The Expert reported 'Although the home is licensed for 22 residents there were only 15 in occupation at the time of the visit of whom five were spoken with in some depth. The manager identified those who were unwell or who would not welcome a conversation and many of the remaining service users were suffering from varying degrees of dementia and conversation was not always easy or meaningful. No visitors were seen on the premises at the time of the inspection.

Everyone spoken with advised that they chose their own time of rising and retiring with or without assistance from staff. People said that in addition to their normal timetable for bathing or showering they were able to request 'extras'. Residents said that the staff were always available to assist them to do things for themselves.

One person said that they were aware that there was such a thing as a 'Care Plan' but they had not seen one. The term 'Care Plan' was not recognised by any of the other people spoken with even when it was explained to them'.

The only regular activity recalled by service users was the occasional visit of a singer/musician (said to be very good and enjoyable). A least two residents choose to remain in their bedrooms and the one spoken with explained, 'I have been unable to find anyone downstairs to converse with' and was content to remain in their room and receive visitors there. One person said that they enjoy small tasks like folding paper napkins and tea towels adding, 'It makes me feel useful'.

People spoken with offered varying opinions on the food ranging from, 'Lacks flavour', 'Like a Curate's Egg ' good in parts', 'Food not to my liking', 'No one could grumble about the food here', to ' Food alright'. Several people mentioned how much they liked the varied home made soups describing them as 'very good and tasty'. No one admitted to being asked what his or her favourite food was or could recall the chef's daily visits when he sought the resident's selection from the menus for that day.

The general opinion of residents was that there were sufficient staff available although one person was concerned over recent and pending staff departures and was aware that replacements were being recruited. Without exception service users said they appreciated the staff saying, 'I get on very well with the staff', 'Nothing neglected here', 'I have a good leg pull with', 'They are all lovely'. One person felt that some staff were better than others'.

The home is currently the subject of a safeguarding investigation, due to concerns being raised. The investigation is being carried out by Torbay Care Trust. The Local Authority have stopped placements at this home.

2 June 2011

During an inspection in response to concerns

We watched people being given their lunchtime medicines and saw that medicines were administered in a safe and friendly way. However, we found that the administration of medicines was not always recorded properly on people's medicine charts. One person said 'staff always bring me my tablets'.

16 May 2011

During an inspection in response to concerns

Four people told us they were happy living in the home, and one person told us they weren't happy living in the home. Comments included 'it's nice here', 'staff are brilliant' and 'I don't see many people to talk to'.

People told us that there is plenty of food and the food is good.

On the day of the visit, people who live in the home told us that they had been on an outing to the Zoo. One person told us they like gardening and planting at the home. Another person was celebrating their birthday and staff had arranged a birthday cake.

We observed that people who live in the home and spend large amounts of time in their bedrooms do not have much social interaction. One person told us 'staff come in when they need to do something'.