Linnet House

Updated 18 May 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 completed 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

Linnet House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Linnet House is a care home without nursing care. 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

We gave a short period notice of the inspection because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

Inspection activity started on 19 April 2023 and ended on 4 May 2023. We visited the service on 19 April 2023 and spoke with relatives by telephone on 20 April 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. 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. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We met and spent some time with all 5 people who lived at the home. We also spoke with 2 relatives about the experience of the care provided over the telephone.

We spoke with 6 staff which included support staff, positive support coordinator and the registered manager.

We reviewed and sampled a range of documents and records including the care and medicine records for 4 people, and 3 staff recruitment files. We also looked at records that related to the management and quality assurance of the service.

Updated 18 May 2023

About the service

Linnet House is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 5 people. The service provides support to people with a learning disability or autism. At the time of our inspection there were 5 people using the service.

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

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

Right Support: Model of Care and setting that maximises people's choice, control and independence.

There was a clear focus on independence and people were encouraged to achieve goals that supported this. People's health needs were met and staff worked in collaboration with professionals to support this. Individual risks to people and from the environment were assessed and responded to. People were supported to decorate their personal spaces how they wanted.

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.

Right Care: Care is person-centred and promotes people's dignity, privacy and human rights.

People received person-centred care that met their needs and interests. They were supported to access activities of their choice and the local community. Staff were kind and caring. People's dignity was promoted. Systems were in place to ensure people and relatives could provide feedback on the care they received.

Right Culture: The ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of leaders and care staff ensure people using services lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives.

The management team were visible in the service and had oversight of the care provided. The governance systems and process ensured the service stayed up to date with best practice and drove improvement. A person-centred culture was encouraged and supported. Staff worked well with each other and people using the service. The management team were committed to developing the quality of the service.

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

This service was registered with us on 2 November 2021 and this is the first inspection.

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.