CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at St John of God Care Services Lindisfarne
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People told inspectors they felt safe. Risk, safeguarding, accident and medicine systems were managed safely, and there were enough staff to support people.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was carried forward.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect. People were listened to, supported to make choices and helped to maintain relationships and independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was carried forward.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had regular audits, staff felt supported, and people and relatives were involved in developing the service. The manager and staff promoted an open and inclusive culture.
What inspectors found, December 2023
St John of God Care Services Lindisfarne was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and well-led care, although the overall rating fell from Outstanding.
This was an unannounced inspection on 8 November 2023. One inspector and an Expert by Experience spoke with 9 people, 7 relatives and 7 staff. They reviewed care, medicines, recruitment, risk and management records, and checked the premises.
The home supported 12 people and could support up to 13. Inspectors found that people were safe, medicines were managed properly, and there were enough staff. People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect, and were supported to make choices and develop independence.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe, Caring and Well-led were each rated Good. Effective and Responsive were not inspected during this visit, so their previous ratings were carried forward. The overall rating changed from Outstanding to Good compared with the previous inspection.
Safe medicines
Inspectors found that medicines were managed, recorded and given safely. Staff knew how to support people with medicines while promoting independence.
“People received the right medication at the right time from staff who were appropriately trained to provide this care safely.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were supported to make their own choices, take part in activities and learn daily living skills. Staff focused on what people could do.
“Staff focused on people's strengths and promoted what they could do, so people had a fulfilling and meaningful everyday life.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors observed a friendly atmosphere. Staff listened to people, respected their privacy and dignity, and supported personal relationships.
“We observed staff treat people with kindness and respect.” from the report
Involvement in the service
People and relatives were given opportunities to discuss support and help improve the home. Meetings also allowed people to raise concerns and hear about changes.
“Regular staff and resident meetings were held which gave the opportunity for people to raise any concerns and for the management team to inform people of any changes within the service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you continue to support my relative to make their own choices and develop daily living skills?
- 02How do you make sure medicines are given at the right time and that staff follow the guidance for as-needed medicines?
- 03How will my relative be supported to take part in activities, visits and relationships that matter to them?
- 04What improvements are included in the home's current action plan, and how will families be told about progress?
- 05Who is responsible for the home when the registered manager is absent, and how is suitable cover arranged?
This was an unannounced inspection of Safe, Caring and Well-led; Effective and Responsive were not inspected and their previous ratings were carried forward. This explanation was written from the published report of 28 December 2023 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, April 2018
Rated Outstanding; inspectors found exceptional caring and leadership, with Good ratings for safety, effectiveness and responsiveness.
This was an unannounced inspection on 15 March 2018. Inspectors spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and healthcare professionals. They observed care and checked care plans, medicines records, recruitment files and management records.
The home was rated Outstanding overall. Caring and well-led were Outstanding. Safe, effective and responsive were Good. The home supported up to 13 people with learning disabilities, acquired brain injury and physical disabilities. Twelve people were living there at the inspection.
Inspectors found kind and respectful care, safe medicines arrangements, enough staff and good training. People were involved in their care, activities and even staff recruitment. The home had improved from Good at its previous inspection in February 2016.
Kind and respectful care
Staff supported people with warmth, patience and respect. They asked permission, protected privacy and understood people's communication methods and personal histories.
“Staff consistently interacted with people with warmth and kindness.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's choices, routines, life histories, communication needs and health requirements. People could choose activities or have a quiet day.
“These included information on people's life history, likes and dislikes, health, well-being and self-esteem, choice and capacity, independence and living skills, and activities.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff on duty and appropriate recruitment checks. Medicines were administered at the correct times, with individual records and guidance for as-needed medicines.
“We found appropriate arrangements were in place for the safe administration and storage of medicines.” from the report
Excellent leadership
The home had a supportive and open culture. People and staff were involved in recruitment, audits and decisions about improvements.
“People were fully involved in all aspects of the running of the service from recruitment to determining what improvements could be made to the service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you meet my relative's specific health needs, including support during hospital treatment?
- 02How will my relative and our family be involved in writing and reviewing the care plan?
- 03How do you make sure medicines, including as-needed medicines, are given safely and recorded correctly?
- 04What activities and community opportunities would be available, and how would my relative choose whether to take part?
- 05How do you maintain staffing continuity and make sure new staff understand my relative's needs and communication?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five key questions; the report says Safe, Effective and Responsive remained Good, while Caring and Well-led improved from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 28 April 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 St John of God Care Services Lindisfarne
3 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2023Goodcurrent ratingdown from OutstandingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at St John of God Care Services Lindisfarne →
- April 2018Outstandingup from GoodSafe: GoodCaring: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
Read what inspectors found at St John of God Care Services Lindisfarne →
- March 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 21 December 2010.
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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36 live-in carers within about an hour of Darlington
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 £970 to £1,230 a week. 35 can care for a couple. 11 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.”
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