Archived: Lyndel Homes

Updated 15 December 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 26 October 2017 and was unannounced.

The inspection team consisted of 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 use this type of service. As part of the inspection we looked at the information we held about the service. This included statutory notifications, which are notifications the provider must send us to inform us of certain events. The provider had sent us a Provider Information Return (PIR) before the inspection. A PIR is a form that asks the provider to give key information about the home, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also contacted the local authority and commissioners for information they held about the service and reviewed the Healthwatch website, which provides information on care homes. This helped us to plan the inspection.

We spoke with seven people, five staff members and the registered manager/provider. We also looked at records in relation to three people’s care and medication records to see how their care and treatment was planned and delivered. Other records looked at included three staff recruitment files to check suitable staff were recruited. The provider’s training records were looked at to check staff were appropriately trained and supported to deliver care to meet people’s individual needs. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service along with a selection of the provider’s policies and procedures, to ensure people received a good quality service.

Updated 15 December 2017

This inspection was unannounced and took place on 26 October 2017. At the last comprehensive inspection in October 2015, we found the provider required improvement under the question of ‘Is the service caring’. At a focused responsive inspection in January 2017, we found the provider required improvement under the question of ‘Is the service well led.’ We found at this inspection improvements had been made.

Lyndal Homes, Radnor Road is registered to provide accommodation and support for up to 15 people with mental health needs. On the day of the inspection visit there were 15 people living at the home. The provider is also the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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.

At the last comprehensive inspection in April 2015, the provider was found to be ‘requires improvement’ under the key question of ‘Is the service caring.’ At this inspection we found improvements had been made to the way people were supported which ensured their dignity and privacy was maintained. People told us staff were kind and caring and we observed caring interactions between people and staff throughout the inspection visit.

At the last focused inspection in January 2017, the provider was found to be ‘requires improvement’ under the key question of ‘Is the service well-led’. At this inspection we found improvements had been made to the provider’s recruitment processes to ensure staff were safely recruited and were suitable to work with vulnerable people. Improvements had also been made to the monitoring of the training delivered to staff to ensure they continued to meet people’s individual support needs.

People were safe at the home, supported by staff that knew people’s individual needs well. The provider had processes in place to support staff to protect people from the risk of abuse. Risk management processes had been reviewed to ensure staff received appropriate guidance on how to manage risks associated with people’s safety, health and well-being. There were sufficient numbers of staff to meet people’s care and support needs and respond to people when required. People received their medicines as prescribed and systems used to manage medicines were safe and effective.

The provider was taking the appropriate action to ensure people who used the service were not unlawfully restricted and had processes in place to protect people’s rights.

People were supported with their nutritional and dietary needs and were offered a choice of meals. Snacks were also readily available to people to encourage a healthy nutritional intake. People were supported by staff who had the skills and knowledge to meet their care and support needs. People were supported to access healthcare professionals when they needed to and staff were aware of people’s health needs and how best to support them.

People were supported to maintain their independence where possible and were involved in decisions about their day to day care and support. Visitors were welcomed and staff recognised the importance of people maintaining relationships that were important to them.

People were satisfied with the range of activities available for them to participate in. People were involved in the planning and reviewing of their support. People knew how to complain if they were unhappy about any aspect of their care and support and there was a system in place to manage complaints.

People and staff told us they felt the home was well managed. People were asked for their feedback on the provision of service and this feedback was used to drive improvement. The provider had notified us of incidents and events as required by law.