Lydfords Care Home

Updated 21 July 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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 conducted by 2 inspectors 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

Lydfords is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. Lydfords is a care home without nursing. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We looked at all the information we held about the provider, including information about accidents, incidents and significant events. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection

We spoke with 12 people who lived at the service and 4 visiting family members. We also spoke with 6 members of staff on duty who included, the registered manager, senior care staff, care staff and staff organising social activities. We also took time to observe people throughout the day during activities and mealtimes.

We looked at a range of records including the care records for 4 people, records relating to staff recruitment, training and information about how accidents and incidents were managed. We looked at complaints as well as audits and other records the provider used for managing the service.

We asked for feedback from visiting healthcare professionals and from the local authority.

Updated 21 July 2023

About the service

Lydfords Care Home is a residential home for up to 36 older people, including people living with dementia. At the time of our inspection, 21 people were living at the service. The care home accommodates people in one purpose built building across 2 floors.

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

People living at the service were happy and said they felt safe. Many people spoke about the positive, open and inclusive culture. People knew the staff and management team, they felt able to raise concerns and felt well informed about the service. People liked staff and had a good relationship with them.

Medicines were managed in a safe way. Systems for monitoring administration of medicines were implemented effectively. People received their medicines as prescribed.

People’s needs were assessed and monitored. The staff worked closely with other healthcare professionals to identify and address any changes in their needs. People had enough to eat and drink. People enjoyed the food. There was a wide range of different social and leisure activities and people were able to take part in these.

There were enough qualified and experienced staff to meet the needs of people . Staff were well supported and had access to a range of training and information. There was good teamwork and communication. Staff felt supported by the registered manager.

There was a range of systems designed to monitor and improve the quality of the service. These included checks by the management team and senior managers within the organisation. They made improvements when problems were identified and shared information about these with stakeholders.

The environment was suitable and well maintained. Maintenance staff had schedules for repair and redecoration to make sure the building was safe and clean.

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 information, please read the detailed findings section of this report. If you are reading this as a separate summary, the full report can be found on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This is the first inspection of a newly registered service. The last rating for the service under the previous provider was requires improvement, published on 16 July 2019.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

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.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.