CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Lynwood House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Risk assessments, staff training, staffing levels and vehicle checks were in place, but medicines storage temperatures were not always managed correctly.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found an inclusive, person-centred culture, effective checks and audits, good partnership working and a strong team identity.
What inspectors found, October 2022
Lynwood House is rated Good overall; inspectors found kind, person-centred care, with a medicines storage issue to address.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 12 September 2022. Inspectors looked at whether care was safe and well-led. They reviewed records, medicines, care plans and the building, spoke with staff, people, relatives and professionals, and observed care.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found people were comfortable with staff, risks were assessed, staffing was sufficient and recruitment checks were completed. They also found that managers and staff promoted an inclusive, person-centred culture.
Medicines were generally managed safely, but storage temperatures were not always dealt with properly when they went outside the safe range. The CQC recommended that the home improve its monitoring and actions. The overall Good rating includes ratings carried forward from the previous inspection for the other areas, which were not assessed this time.
Kind, person-centred support
People appeared comfortable with staff and were supported to make choices about their daily lives. Relatives and professionals also described the care positively.
“The registered manager, deputy manager and staff team promoted an inclusive and person-centred culture.” from the report
Good risk management
Care records included detailed guidance about people's risks, including choking. Staff had moving and handling training and their competence had been checked.
“Risk assessments were in place with guidance for staff about how to keep people safe.” from the report
Enough trained staff
Inspectors found there were enough suitably qualified staff to meet people's needs. Recruitment checks included checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service and previous care employers.
“There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet people's needs.” from the report
Effective leadership
Managers carried out audits and checks, acted on errors and worked with external professionals. Staff understood their roles and described a strong team.
“Quality audits and checks were undertaken, overall these were effective and identified errors, omissions and shortfalls.” from the report
Medicines storage temperatures
needs fixingMedicines were generally managed safely, but records did not show what action was taken when storage temperatures went outside safe ranges. The CQC made a recommendation to improve monitoring and responses.
“We found medicines were not always stored in line with current best practice guidance; records did not show what actions had been taken when temperatures for medicines storage exceeded safe ranges.” from the report
Window restrictors
minorThere was a delay in fitting two first-floor window restrictors. This was corrected during the inspection.
“We found there had been a delay fitting two window restrictors to windows on the first floor, however this was rectified during our inspection.” from the report
- 01What changes have you made to medicine storage temperature checks since the inspection?
- 02What do staff do, and what records do they complete, when medicine storage temperatures are outside the safe range?
- 03How do you check that staff continue to use the correct moving and handling techniques?
- 04How do you make sure agency staff understand each person's care and risk guidance?
- 05How do you use feedback from relatives, people and professionals to improve the service?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 October 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, June 2019
Lynwood House was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, and said earlier problems had been improved.
This was an unannounced inspection on 21 May 2019. One inspector observed care, spoke with people living in the home, the manager and staff, and checked care records, staff files, complaints, audits and other records.
The home supported eight people with learning disabilities and had space for up to ten. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe medicines management, suitable risk assessments, good healthcare support, clean surroundings and respectful care.
People were involved in decisions, daily routines and activities. Care plans were personal and staff responded to changes in people's needs. The home had systems to check quality and respond to concerns.
The overall rating was Good, with Good ratings for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The previous rating was Requires Improvement, published in June 2018, and inspectors found that the required improvements had been made.
Safe medicines
Medicines were managed safely, with improved audits and accurate records. Staff completed training and practical competency checks before supporting people with medicines.
“Policies, procedures, records and practices demonstrated medicines were managed safely.” from the report
Skilled staff
Staff felt confident and competent. The report says they received effective induction, training and supervision.
“People were supported by staff who felt confident and competent to assist and care for people.” from the report
Respect and independence
Staff supported people as individuals, promoted their independence and helped them maintain family relationships and meaningful activities.
“Staff were determined and creative in overcoming obstacles in promoting and achieving independence.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's life experiences, interests, likes and dislikes. Staff knew people well and followed their individual preferences.
“Care plans confirmed what support people required including their emotional and social well-being.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The home had a programme of audits and checks. Incidents, complaints and feedback were reviewed to help improve the service.
“Quality assurance systems were in place and the service had a programme of audits and quality checks.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you now check that medicines records remain accurate and that staff remain competent to administer medicines?
- 02How are risk assessments kept up to date for moving and handling, skin care, weight loss and swallowing or choking risks?
- 03How are people and their families involved in reviewing care plans and choosing meals, activities and daily routines?
- 04Which Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards applications are still waiting to be processed, and how are these followed up?
- 05How do audits, meetings and feedback from people and relatives lead to changes in the home?
This was an unannounced planned inspection of the whole service, covering all five key questions and both the premises and the care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 June 2019 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 Lynwood House
4 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- October 2022Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2018Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 July 2014.
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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