CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Lindisfarne Seaham
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse, risks were assessed and medicines were managed safely. Inspectors received mixed feedback about staffing levels, although they saw people attended to promptly during the visits.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had high levels of completed training and supported people with appropriate food, health care and consent arrangements. The home was developing its training system because some staff felt overwhelmed by the amount of training.
- Caring?
- Good
- People and relatives described staff as caring and respectful. Inspectors observed compassionate care and found that people were supported with privacy, dignity, choice and independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were detailed, regularly reviewed and based on people's needs and preferences. People had access to activities, community opportunities and complaint procedures.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The management team was described as approachable and the home had regular audits and improvement plans. Some staff felt concerns about staffing were not always heard, and management agreed to improve ways for staff to raise them.
What inspectors found, October 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found caring, safe and well-managed care, while staffing levels received mixed feedback.
Inspectors visited on 19 and 21 September 2018. The first visit was unannounced. They spoke with people, relatives, staff and visiting professionals, observed care, looked around the home and checked care, medicine, recruitment, training and management records.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found safe medicine support, detailed care plans, kind interactions, suitable activities and systems to monitor quality.
There were mixed views about staffing levels. The management team said staffing was being monitored and reviewed, and inspectors saw people receiving care promptly during their visits. Staff also said they sometimes felt overwhelmed by the amount of training.
Caring relationships
People and relatives described staff as caring and respectful. Inspectors observed compassionate interactions and support for people's dignity and independence.
“We observed staff to be very caring and to deliver care compassionately.” from the report
Detailed care planning
Care plans covered important areas such as nutrition, mobility, personal care, medicines and mental capacity. They were reviewed regularly with people.
“Care plans were detailed and reflected people's needs and preferences.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The home used regular audits and action plans covering medicines, health and safety and infection control. Inspectors saw ongoing improvements being put into action.
“There was a robust programme of audits in place with regular checks being made on areas such as medicines, health and safety and infection control.” from the report
Mixed views about staffing
needs fixingSome relatives and staff felt staffing levels were too low at times, including during breaks or when two staff were helping one person. Management said staffing was being monitored and reviewed.
“When two staff are assisting someone it leaves the lounge with no staff.” from the report
Training workload
minorTraining completion was high, but some staff said they felt overwhelmed by the amount of training. The management team was introducing a new system focused on skills and competence.
“Staff told us they sometimes felt overwhelmed by the volume of training.” from the report
Staff concerns being heard
minorSome staff felt their concerns about staffing were not always acted on. Management agreed to improve the ways staff could discuss concerns and share views anonymously.
“Some of our concerns fall on deaf ears.” from the report
- 01How many staff are normally on duty on each floor, including during breaks?
- 02How do you adjust staffing when residents' needs or occupancy increase?
- 03What has changed in the training system since staff said they felt overwhelmed by the volume of training?
- 04How can staff and relatives raise concerns about staffing, and how are responses tracked?
- 05How are care plans reviewed with residents and their relatives?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions, and the overall rating and each question rating remained Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 October 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.
Every inspection of Lindisfarne Seaham
4 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- October 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2016Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2015Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- November 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 2 February 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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Fees, photos and reviews from families
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47 live-in carers within about an hour of County Durham
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 £960 to £1,210 a week. 42 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Petty introduced herself to Mum every time she was caring for her and responded very quickly to Mum if she was distressed in the night.”
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.