Linear Park Residential Care Home

We found the following examples of good practice.

We were assured the provider and staff at the home had taken appropriate action to help minimise the spread of infection and help ensure people were safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Staff had received appropriate training and guidance in infection prevention and control (IPC) and were observed to follow correct procedures in the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). There were sufficient supplies of PPE located around the service and appropriate locations identified for staff to safely remove and dispose of PPE. The home was kept clean and hygienic with regular cleaning schedules adhered to.

The service made effective use of available COVID-19 testing for both people living at the home and staff. People coming to live at the home were supported to do so safely.

The service followed safe visiting procedures to minimise the spread of infection. Staff reassured people throughout the pandemic and provided them with the support they needed to maintain regular contact with family and friends through the use of technology.

Staff followed shielding and social distancing rules and encouraged people to maintain social distancing where able to. To help maintain people’s health and wellbeing, ‘support bubbles’ had been created when using communal areas; this had helped reduce anxiety and increased positive relationships within the home. Where social distancing was not possible due to the level of care required, staff followed correct guidance in the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Safe procedures were in place for admitting people into the service. Staff ensured people newly admitted were given additional support to maintain their health and wellbeing.

We were assured this service were following safe infection prevention and control measures to keep people safe.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Risks people faced were identified and measures were put in place to reduce the likelihood of harm occurring. Staff knew the different types of abuse and how to recognise and report any concerns they had. People were kept safe by the right amount of suitably skilled staff. The process for recruiting new staff was safe and thorough. Background checks were carried out to ensure staff were suitable for their role. Procedures were followed to ensure people received their medicines safely.

People received care and support from staff who received appropriate training and supervision for their role. People's rights and best interests were promoted in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005. People's dietary needs were understood and met and people enjoyed a variety of food and drink appropriate to their needs.

People were treated with dignity and respect and their privacy, dignity and independence was promoted. Positive relationships had been formed between people who used the service, family members and staff.

People's needs were assessed, planned for and kept under review. People received person centred care which was responsive to their needs. A complaints policy and procedure was made available to people and relevant others. People and family members knew how to complain and they were confident that they would be listened to.

The leadership of the service was inclusive and positive. The quality and safety of the service was assessed and monitored and the required improvements were made so that people received a service which was safe, effective and responsive to their needs.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

This was an unannounced inspection carried out by an Adult Social Care inspector. During the inspection we spoke with seven people who lived in the home, five visitors, six members of staff and the registered manager. There was a registered manager at the service. 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.

We observed care and support in communal areas, spoke with people in private and looked at care and management records.

People told us that they felt safe in the service and they did not have to wait long for staff to assist them.

We saw that medicines was not always managed safely or given in a manner that met people’s individual needs.

Some of the systems used to assess the quality of the service had not identified the issues that we found during the inspection. The majority of these were discussed with the registered manager who immediately put new systems into place.

People told us that they, and their families, had been included in planning and agreeing to the care provided. We saw that people had an individual plan, detailing the support they needed and how they wanted this to be provided.

People told us that they were treated with kindness, compassion and respect. We saw many positive interactions and people enjoyed talking to the staff in the home.

People told us that were able to see their friends and families as they wanted. We saw that there were no restrictions on when people could visit the home. All the visitors we spoke with told us they were made welcome by the staff in the home.

The staff told us they were aware of their responsibility to protect people from harm or abuse. They knew the action to take if they were concerned about the safety or welfare of an individual. They told us they would be confident reporting any concerns to a senior person in the home.

People said that the home was, 'wonderful' and that the staff were, 'very kind and understanding.'

Relatives thought that the care was excellent and that they had been involved in discussing their parent's needs and preferences even before they had gone to live at the home.

We saw that staff were kind and attentive, knew the service users' needs and were pleasant and cheerful.

The property was well laid out and maintained and we saw records of relevant safety assessments.

We looked at the records kept by the service and saw policies relating to Data Protection and Freedom of Information which staff knew of and understood.

All the people we spoke with said they were always treated with dignity and respect. One person said, 'You only have to touch the bell and they [the staff] come.' People told us they enjoyed the food and there was always a choice available. One person said 'The food is really excellent.'

We spoke with three people who were visiting friends or relatives who live in the home. All were pleased with the care and support being provided. One person said 'The staff always interact well with everybody who live here.'