- Care home
Lyndon Croft
Assessment report published 8 October 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
This inspection took place between 2nd September and 11th September 2026. Lyndon Croft is a care home providing personal care for up to 53 people in a purpose-built environment. At the time of this assessment, 40 people were living at the service. The home supports older people, younger adults and people living with dementia.
The provider was previously in breach of the legal regulation in relation to person centred care. Improvements were found at this assessment, and the provider was no longer in breach of this regulation.
We had previously rated this service as Requires Improvement in 2024. At that time, the provider was in breach of legal regulations 12 and 17. At this assessment improvements had been made, and the provider is no longer in breach of any legal regulations. The service is now rated as Good.
The home provided a clean, welcoming and well-maintained environment. People's bedrooms were spacious, personalised and reflected their individual preferences, interests and personalities. Each room was equipped with an ensuite wet room, promoting privacy, dignity and independence. Memory boxes and displays outside bedrooms helped staff, visitors and other professionals understand people's backgrounds, interests and life histories, supporting meaningful interactions.
There were a variety of communal spaces available to meet people's differing needs and preferences. These included dining areas where people could enjoy meals together, activity spaces that encouraged social engagement and participation, and quieter lounge areas for people who wished to relax in a peaceful environment or spend private time with family and friends. The service also benefited from an attractive garden area, providing people with access to outdoor space where they could enjoy fresh air, nature and opportunities for relaxation.
The provider had strengthened governance arrangements and quality assurance processes since the last inspection. Audits and monitoring systems were more established and had begun to identify areas requiring improvement. However, whilst significant progress had been made, audits had not identified all of the documentation and recording issues found during this inspection. Some further work was required to ensure records were completed consistently and that quality assurance systems were fully effective in identifying and addressing all areas for improvement.
The provider was open, transparent and receptive to feedback throughout the assessment. Where concerns were identified, action was taken promptly to address them, demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement. Although the previous breaches had been met, the provider recognised there were further opportunities to strengthen care planning, record keeping and governance processes to ensure improvements were fully embedded and sustained.
Plans were in place to provide additional support and development for staff responsible for care planning and record oversight, alongside strengthened auditing arrangements. These actions were intended to improve the consistency and quality of documentation, enhance management oversight and support the provider's continued commitment to delivering safe, effective and person-centred care.
People's experience of this service
We gathered people's views and experiences through a range of methods. An Expert by Experience with knowledge of supporting people living with dementia spoke with people and their relatives. During our assessment visit, we also spoke with people and relatives and used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI), which helps inspectors understand the experiences of people who may be unable to express their views directly. The SOFI observation showed that people experienced kind, respectful and person-centred care. Staff engaged warmly with people, understood their individual needs and preferences, and adapted their approach to provide reassurance, promote independence and support meaningful involvement in day-to-day decisions. People appeared relaxed and comfortable in the presence of staff, received support at a pace that suited them and experienced a caring, inclusive culture where staff treated them with dignity, respect and compassion.
Most people and relatives were positive about their experiences at the home. People told us they felt safe and comfortable living at the home. One person told us “If I was worried about anything to do with this place, I would talk to my niece because she is the closest relative. If it was something small, I would mention it to the staff myself, but it’s never happened”.
Most relatives described staff as kind, caring and attentive and said their family members were treated with dignity and respect. One person told us, "I’m absolutely safe here. We’ve got a lovely garden, and everyone is easy-going. The assistant manager up here is lovely. If ever I was worried about something I would speak to them, they are very good”
We received mixed feedback from relatives about their involvement and communication with the service. Some relatives told us the provider involved them in assessments and reviews and kept them informed about changes to their family member's health and wellbeing. However, some relatives said they had not always been involved in care reviews and felt communication from managers could be improved. Feedback[SH1.1][RS1.2][RS1.3] from relatives indicated managers were not always as responsive as relatives expected when raising queries or seeking updates. Despite this, relatives consistently described positive relationships with staff and expressed confidence in the care and support their family members received.
People lived in a pleasant and homely environment. Bedrooms were personalised with photographs, personal possessions and memorabilia. Relatives spoke positively about the home's environment, including access to garden areas and communal spaces. People were offered opportunities to participate in activities and maintain social connections according to their individual preferences. A family member told us " I don’t have much time, but I’ve come to find you to let you know how wonderful the staff are here. This home is run very well. Buckingham Palace isn’t any better. We moved my [loved one] from a previous care home. We’re happy that we did this. This place is wonderful".
We observed that people were given choices on how and where they spent their time. Some people enjoyed socialising in communal lounges, dining with others and taking part in activities, while others preferred quieter areas where they could relax in a calm environment. We observed families spending time privately with their loved ones in comfortable lounge areas. One family member told us “At one time it used to be difficult to get in here, through the front door on arrival but it has improved recently. They do come more quickly now”.