Lynhales Hall Nursing Home

Updated 27 June 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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection at the service was carried out by 2 Inspectors and a Specialist Advisor who was a nurse. An Expert by Experience made telephone calls to relatives after our visit. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Lynhales Hall Nursing Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Lynhales Hall Nursing Home is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

The provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. 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 with 6 people who used the service and 4 relatives about their experience of the care and support provided. 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. We spoke with 11 staff, which included the registered manager, clinical lead, quality lead, regional director, compliance manager, nurses, team leaders, care staff and housekeeping staff. We requested feedback from 7 external health and social care professionals, and received feedback from 3 professionals. We reviewed aspects of 6 people's care records, staff recruitment records, training records, staff rotas and documents in relation to the governance of the service.

Updated 27 June 2023

About the service

Lynhales Hall Nursing Home is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to up to 73 people. The service provides support to younger and older adults who may have dementia, a physical disability or sensory impairment. At the time of our inspection there were 52 people using the service.

Lynhales Hall Nursing Home is divided into two units. The 'main house' provides accommodation for up to 53 people aged 65 and over. The 'John Sperry Unit' is a modern ground floor extension to the main building, which provides nursing care for up to 20 people living with dementia.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People told us they felt safe and supported by the staff who worked in the home. Staff recognised different types of abuse and how to report it. The registered manager understood their safeguarding responsibilities and how to protect people from abuse. People’s care had been planned and potential risks to people had been identified, with mitigation in place to protect people from harm. There were enough staff on duty to keep people safe and meet their needs. People's medicines were managed and stored in a safe way. Recruitment processes were robust to ensure safe employment of new staff.

People's care needs had been assessed and planned, and any changes to people’s planned care was identified promptly. Staff received training and support to be able to care for people in line with best practice. People were supported to have a healthy balanced diet and enjoyed a varied choice of home cooked food. Staff worked with external healthcare professionals and followed their guidance and advice about how to support people following best practice. 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 were supported by staff who treated them well. One relative said, “When you left [after visiting] you knew [the person] was absolutely safe and in the best hands.” Staff treated people as individuals and respected the decisions they made. Staff treated people with respect and maintained their dignity.

People's care was delivered in a timely way, with any changes in care being communicated clearly to the staff team. People were supported to engage in activities and interests which were individual to them. People had access to information about how to raise a complaint. People's end of life care needs were met in line with their preferences in a respectful and dignified way.

The provider had strengthened the systems and processes to monitor the quality of the service provision. People, relatives and staff were involved and engaged with the service provision. External professionals were working with the senior staff to build, shape and develop their working roles, to provide good outcomes for people.

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

Rating at last inspection The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 24 October 2019).

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about people’s care and treatment. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from these concerns.

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.

The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good based on the findings of this inspection.