CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Linden House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found effective safeguarding, risk management, staffing, recruitment, medicines and infection control. Staff also recorded incidents and used them to reduce the chance of problems happening again.
- Effective?
- Good
- People had detailed assessments and support plans. Staff had suitable training, worked with health and social care professionals, supported people's nutrition and healthcare, and followed the Mental Capacity Act.
- Caring?
- Good
- People were treated with kindness, compassion, dignity and respect. Staff involved people in their care and supported communication, choice and independence.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Support was highly individualised and often led to exceptionally positive outcomes. The home helped people manage addiction, improve their wellbeing, avoid isolation, maintain relationships and move towards greater independence.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had a positive, open and inclusive culture. Leaders used audits, feedback and improvement plans, and worked with other organisations to support people.
What inspectors found, May 2022
Linden House is rated Good overall, with Outstanding responsiveness and safe, effective, caring and well-led support.
This was an unannounced inspection. One inspector visited on 15 and 17 March 2022, observed care, spoke with people and staff, checked records, and contacted social care professionals after the visits.
The home supported 22 people, against a capacity of 23. Inspectors found people were safe, treated with kindness and respect, and supported by staff with suitable skills. Medicines, staffing, infection control and risk management were found to be well managed.
The strongest area was responsiveness, rated Outstanding. Inspectors found highly personalised support that helped people regain control of their lives, improve their health and wellbeing, manage addiction, and sometimes move on to more independent living.
All five areas were rated Good or Outstanding. This was the first inspection since the provider took over in July 2020. The previous provider's rating was Good, published in July 2019.
Personalised recovery support
Inspectors found that support was tailored to people's complex needs and could help them regain control, improve their health and move towards more independent living.
“People's care and support led to outstanding, positive outcomes.” from the report
Safe staffing
There were enough staff with the right skills, and the provider had made arrangements to cover sickness and other absence.
“There were enough staff with the right mix of skills to support people safely.” from the report
Choice and nutrition
People had access to enough food and drink and were offered alternatives that matched their preferences and dietary needs.
“People had genuine choice and access to sufficient food and drink throughout the day.” from the report
Respectful care
Staff encouraged people, promoted their dignity and independence, and involved them in decisions about their care and support.
“Staff treated people with kindness and compassion.” from the report
Reducing isolation
The home supported relationships, hobbies, activities and safe access to the local community and garden.
“There was a significant focus on avoiding social isolation in the home.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you assess and support my relative's alcohol, substance use, physical health and mental health needs?
- 02How would you help my relative take part in decisions about their care, medicines and daily routines?
- 03What staffing levels and contingency arrangements are in place if staff are absent?
- 04How would you support my relative to maintain relationships, follow their interests and avoid social isolation?
- 05How do you work with GPs, mental health services and other professionals involved in a person's care?
This was the first inspection of the newly registered service and covered all five key questions, the premises and infection prevention and control measures; the location was visited on 15 and 17 March 2022. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 May 2022 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Linden House
4 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- May 2022Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- July 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2016Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- September 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- July 2020
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 28 July 2020.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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46 live-in carers within about an hour of Southampton
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £980 to £1,350 a week. 39 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“I cannot recommend Prisca highly enough, she is one in a million.”
“He stayed with her throughout the pandemic, refusing to visit his own family, who lived nearby, to reduce the risk of infection.”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.