CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Linden Lodge Residential Home
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
- Safe?
- Requires improvement
- Inspectors found that risks were not always identified or managed. There were gaps in care records and medicines stock discrepancies, although staffing, fire safety and infection control had improved.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was carried forward when the overall rating was calculated.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was carried forward when the overall rating was calculated.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was carried forward when the overall rating was calculated.
- Well-led?
- Requires improvement
- Management systems had improved but did not reliably identify gaps in risk management, records, medicines checks and mental capacity assessments. Further provider oversight was needed.
What inspectors found, September 2022
Rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found kind support and some improvements, but risks, medicines records and management checks were not reliable enough.
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe and Well-led. Inspectors visited the home, observed care, spoke with people’s relatives and staff, and checked care records, medicines, recruitment files and management records.
The home had enough staff, was clean, and had improved its fire safety and infection control. People and relatives were positive about the care. Staff supported people’s choices and worked within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act.
However, inspectors found gaps in repositioning, diabetes checks, food and fluid records and risk assessments. They also found discrepancies in medicines stock, meaning they could not always be sure people received medicines as prescribed. Management checks had not found these problems. The overall rating stayed Requires Improvement, as did Safe and Well-led.
Enough staff
Inspectors found enough staff on shift to meet people’s assessed needs. Staff said they were supported and a staff presence was maintained in communal areas.
“The registered manager ensured there were enough staff to meet people's individually assessed needs.” from the report
Clean and infection controls
The home was clean and tidy. Inspectors were assured that infection prevention measures, including PPE and outbreak arrangements, were in place.
“The home was clean and tidy and systems and processes were in place to protect people from the risks of infection.” from the report
Improvements since the last inspection
Fire safety had improved, and skin patch medicines were being recorded on body charts. Records supporting covert medicines had also improved.
“At this visit we found improved practices when skin patch medicines were administered.” from the report
Activities and feedback
People were offered a varied programme of activities and gave positive feedback. People, relatives and staff were encouraged to share their views.
“People were kept active and stimulated through a varied calendar of activities, for which people gave us positive feedback.” from the report
Risks were not always managed
seriousInspectors found gaps in repositioning, diabetes monitoring and nutrition records. A mattress warning light had been flashing without evidence that action had been taken.
“Risks were not always identified or well managed.” from the report
Medicines records
seriousStock discrepancies were found for all three people whose medicines were checked. This meant inspectors could not be sure that medicines had always been given as prescribed.
“This meant staff may potentially not always have administered the prescribed dosages to people.” from the report
Management checks missed problems
needs fixingAudits and quality checks had not identified important gaps in care records, risk reviews and medicines monitoring. Investigations after incidents were not always thorough enough.
“Quality checks had not identified these issues.” from the report
Recruitment references
needs fixingTwo staff members had provided references for each other, and the provider had not obtained alternative references at the time of inspection.
“We were not assured that some references obtained provided robust reassurance of the person's suitability, based on impartial feedback.” from the report
- 01How are you now checking that repositioning, diabetes monitoring and food and fluid records are completed on time?
- 02What system is now used to check medicines stock and confirm that people receive their medicines as prescribed?
- 03What has been done to repair or replace equipment when a warning light shows a problem, such as the mattress mentioned in the report?
- 04How are management audits checking that risk assessments and care plans are accurate, personalised and reviewed when due?
- 05What changes have been made to recruitment checks and staff references since the inspection?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led; the other key question ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 September 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.
What inspectors found, January 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control measures were in place.
The inspection took place on 7 December 2020 and was announced. It was a targeted inspection carried out because of coronavirus outbreaks in care homes.
Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control. They were assured that the home managed visitors, social distancing, shielding, admissions, protective equipment, testing, hygiene and outbreaks safely.
The home was closed to visitors except in exceptional circumstances. It offered outdoor visits when possible and helped people keep in touch with family by video calls, letters and phone calls.
This report did not give a quality rating. “Inspected but not rated” means the visit checked infection control arrangements rather than providing a full assessment of the home across all five areas.
Infection prevention arrangements
Inspectors were assured that the home had suitable arrangements for preventing and managing infections, including the use of protective equipment and testing.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Family contact during restrictions
When visits were restricted, people were supported to stay in touch with their families through video calls, letters and phone calls.
“During times of visiting restrictions people were supported to stay in touch with their family through video calls, letters and phone calls.” from the report
Controlled visiting
The home used exceptional circumstances for indoor visits, outdoor visits when possible and a booking system to manage visitor numbers.
“A large marquee was used for outdoor visits when the weather was more favourable and a booking system was used to manage visitor numbers.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What is the home's current visiting policy, and has it changed since the inspection on 7 December 2020?
- 02How does the home currently test people using the service and staff for infections?
- 03How does the home manage new admissions safely?
- 04How are protective equipment, hand hygiene and social distancing managed in the home now?
- 05What was the home's most recent full CQC rating across all five areas?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control practices during the coronavirus response; the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 January 2021 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 Lodge Residential Home
4 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Requires improvement rating throughout.
- September 2022Requires improvementcurrent ratingSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
Read what inspectors found at Linden Lodge Residential Home →
- January 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Linden Lodge Residential Home →
- November 2019Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Warwickshire
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 £950 to £1,260 a week. 77 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“If you bump into her in the night on her way to the bathroom she will still inquire how you are and if everything is alright.”
“I have never met a person who is so kind and thinks about others before himself to such an extent as Chris Malagala.”
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.