CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Linden Lodge Nursing Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, December 2020
Targeted infection-control inspection; inspectors were assured the home was managing Covid-19 risks, but the service was not rated.
Inspectors visited the home on 23 November 2020. The visit was announced and focused on infection prevention and control during the coronavirus outbreak.
They found checks for visitors, use of protective equipment, social distancing measures and arrangements for testing and isolating people. They were also assured that the home had an up-to-date infection-control policy.
This was not a full inspection of the home. The overall service and Safe question were recorded as inspected but not rated, so this report does not give a judgement on the wider quality of care.
Visitor precautions
Visitors had their temperatures checked and completed a Covid-19 screening questionnaire before entering. Protective equipment and clear guidance were available.
“Visitors to the home had their temperatures taken and a Covid-19 screening questionnaire was completed prior to entering the home.” from the report
Contact with relatives
The home supported people to keep in touch with relatives and friends through video calls, social media, telephone calls and a regular blog.
“People were supported to maintain contact with relatives and friends who were important to them through video, social media, telephone calls and a regular blog.” from the report
Staff infection controls
Staff used a separate entrance, changed clothing at the start and end of shifts, and had arrangements for social distancing during breaks.
“Staff entered the home through a separate entrance and changed their clothing upon starting and finishing their shifts, to reduce the risk of cross infection.” from the report
Agency staff arrangements
Agency staff were booked for blocks of shifts and did not work in other health or social care settings, reducing the risk of infection spreading between services.
“Agency staff had been blocked booked and did not work in other health or social care settings which mitigated the risk of cross infection.” from the report
Monitoring and isolation
People were checked for high temperatures at least three times a day. People with symptoms were isolated and tested as soon as possible.
“People were assessed for high temperatures at least three times daily and where symptomatic, were isolated and tested for Covid-19 as soon as possible.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are visitors currently screened and what protective equipment is provided?
- 02How often are residents checked for symptoms or high temperatures now?
- 03What happens if a resident or staff member tests positive for an infection?
- 04How do staff who work through an agency avoid working across different care settings?
- 05What are the home's current overall and question ratings from any later inspection?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control practices during a coronavirus outbreak; the service was inspected but not rated and the report does not assess the other quality areas. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 December 2020 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.
What inspectors found, June 2018
Rated Good overall; inspectors found kind, responsive care and improvements since the previous inspection, but some safety records still needed attention.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 22 May 2018. Inspectors spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and managers. They observed care, reviewed care plans and medicines records, and checked the home's quality monitoring.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff on the day, safe medicines practices, good healthcare support, kind interactions and a range of activities.
The home had improved since February 2017, when Safe and Well-led were rated Requires Improvement. Inspectors found that risks, medicines and quality checks were being managed better, although they still identified some areas needing closer attention.
Kind and respectful care
Staff showed compassion and took time to understand people's histories, interests and communication needs. Inspectors saw patient, reassuring and respectful interactions.
“Staff showed a high level of compassion, encouragement and empathy towards people.” from the report
Activities and social life
People could take part in varied activities inside and outside the home. Activities supported social contact, memories, movement and emotional wellbeing, with quieter options for people who preferred them.
“People were offered opportunities to engage in, and experience, different and stimulating activities both inside and outside the home.” from the report
Improved safety
The home had acted on problems found at the previous inspection. Inspectors found better risk management and medicines practice at this visit.
“At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the service is now rated as 'Good' overall.” from the report
Support with end of life care
People and families were involved in planning end of life care. Staff worked with other services and aimed to provide comfort, dignity and pain relief.
“Staff had received training in supporting people at the end of their life and worked to ensure each person had a dignified and pain free death.” from the report
Food and drink choices
People were offered meal choices, snacks and support to eat and drink enough. Inspectors found that individual preferences, including special diets, were considered.
“People were encouraged and supported to eat and drink enough and were positive about the quality and variety of their meals.” from the report
Slower responses at some times
needs fixingSome people said staff could take longer to answer call bells in the evenings and at weekends. Inspectors found call bells were answered promptly during their visit.
“However, some people told us staff could take longer to respond in the evenings and at weekends.” from the report
Repositioning records
needs fixingSome staff did not always reposition people at risk of skin damage as stated in care plans, or record this accurately. Managers addressed this during the inspection and planned further work with staff.
“During our visit we identified that some staff were not consistently repositioning people at risk of skin damage in accordance with their care plans or accurately recording when they had repositioned people.” from the report
Some medicines records and storage checks
needs fixingRecords for creams did not give enough detail to confirm they were applied as prescribed. Guidance for one person's covert medicines and room temperature checks also needed improvement, and managers took action.
“Some people were applied topical medicines in the form of cream or lotions.” from the report
Emergency evacuation arrangements
needs fixingInspectors identified issues with the evacuation procedure. The provider said the fire system was being upgraded and the process was under review.
“We identified some issues with the procedure, and the provider's management systems consultant confirmed, "There is room for improvement in the way we do things.” from the report
Care plans for anxiety and agitation
needs fixingSome plans did not contain enough detail about what could trigger anxiety or agitation, or how staff should respond. Managers said they were adding information to a positive behaviour plan.
“However, when people became anxious or agitated, there was sometimes a lack of detail to inform staff how to support them.” from the report
- 01How quickly are call bells usually answered in the evenings and at weekends?
- 02How do you make sure people at risk of skin damage are repositioned as planned and that this is recorded accurately?
- 03How do you check that creams and other topical medicines are applied as prescribed?
- 04What changes have been made to the fire evacuation procedure and emergency arrangements?
- 05How are care plans updated to explain what may trigger anxiety or agitation and how staff should respond?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering the overall service and all five CQC key questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 June 2018 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. The report was longer than we could read in one go; the later sections may not be reflected.
Every inspection of Linden Lodge Nursing Home
3 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- June 2018Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2017Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 15 March 2011.
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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