Lingdale Lodge

Updated 24 April 2021

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector and an expert by experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Lingdale Lodge is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection and sought feedback from the local authority who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with five people and ten relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with eight members of staff including the provider, registered manager, deputy manager, senior care workers and care workers. We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and a sample of medicines records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including recruitment processes and policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.

Updated 24 April 2021

About the service

Lingdale Lodge is a residential care home providing personal care to 39 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can accommodate up to 48 people.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

At our last inspection we found failings in the service which put people at risk of harm. At this inspection the provider had made the necessary improvements, and people were safe.

We were not fully assured any future shortfall would be acted upon promptly. The improvements made needed to embedded and sustained.

The provider and registered manager were open and transparent, and acknowledged the previous failings. They accepted improvements made needed to be embedded and sustained over time.

People were protected from harm and abuse, and relatives felt their family members were safe and well cared for. Staff were trained in safeguarding and knew how to report concerns to the relevant authorities if needed. Recruitment processes ensured staff employed were safe to care for vulnerable people.

Arrangements were in place to safely manage and monitor risks associated with people’s care. The service worked in partnership with healthcare professionals. Care plans and risk assessments were reflective of people’s needs, and people's medicines were managed safely.

Robust infection control procedures were in place with government guidance followed to ensure people were protected as far as possible from the risk of infectious diseases such as COVID-19.

Staffing levels were safe. Staff provided people with safe and compassionate care and were supported in their role. People and relatives were consulted on how care was arranged according to their wishes.

There was a positive culture at the service. People commented on a warm and friendly atmosphere at the service. When a concern was raised these were listened too and taken seriously.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection (and update)

The last rating for this service was inadequate (published 15 April 2020) and there were multiple breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider had met some of the breaches of regulation. The provider remains in breach of one regulation. This breach of regulation will be reviewed at our next inspection.

This service has been in Special Measures since 15 April 2020. During this inspection the provider demonstrated that improvements have been made. The service is no longer rated as inadequate overall or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is no longer in Special Measures.

Why we inspected

We carried out a comprehensive inspection of this service on 5 February 2020. Breaches of legal requirements were found, and the service was placed in special measures. We imposed conditions on the providers registration. The provider completed an action plan to show what they would do and by when to bring about the improvements needed.

We undertook this focused inspection to check the provider had followed their action plan and to confirm they are now meeting legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the key questions safe and well-led which contain those requirements. This inspection was also prompted in part due to concerns received about staffing numbers, medicines and infection control.

The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used to calculate the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has changed from inadequate to requires improvement. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Lingdale Lodge on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.