We carried out a review of the data available to us about Linwood House on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Linwood House, you can give feedback on this service.
Linwood House provides accommodation and care for adults with learning disabilities. The service accommodated people in one building and was registered to support up to 13 people. At the time of the inspection 13 people were living at the service.
The service worked in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service received planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them
The service was registered for the support of up to 13 people and 13 people were using the service. This is larger than current best practice guidance. However, the size of the service having a negative impact on people was mitigated by the building design fitting into the residential area and the other large domestic homes of a similar size. There were deliberately no identifying signs to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when supporting people outside the home.
People’s experience of using the service and what we found
People told us they were happy living at Linwood House and they felt safe. Staff were aware of their responsibilities to keep people safe from abuse and discrimination. People were protected from risks associated with the environment, and risks related to their health and welfare had been assessed, planned for and were regularly monitored. The service was clean and tidy.
People told us there were enough staff to support them and they regularly accessed the community, with staff or independently. People led active and fulfilling lives, one person worked, another did volunteer work. People were supported to pursue hobbies and interests.
Safe recruitment procedures were followed to ensure suitable staff were employed. Staff were well trained with the skills to provide care for people’s needs.
People were supported to take their medicines in a safe and timely way, medicines were stored and managed safely.
People were supported by staff who were kind and caring and who knew them well. The care delivered was around people’s individual needs. Technology was used to improve the service for people. People’s healthcare needs were well-managed, and staff sought support from health care professionals as required to support people effectively. People had a choice about what they ate and participated in planning and preparing meals.
People’s care plans were person-centred, and staff had the information required to provide care in an individualised way. People had the opportunity to give feedback and make suggestions to improve the service.
The service was well-led. Staff felt well supported by the registered manager. Quality systems were in place to monitor accidents, incidents and complaints, to learn lessons and make improvements.
The service was working within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act. 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.
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published 8 February 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
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.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
The service had a registered manager in place at the time of our inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons.’ Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People were supported by staff who knew how to recognise abuse and how to respond to concerns. Risks in relation to people’s daily life were assessed and planned for to protect them from harm.
People were supported by enough staff to ensure they received care and support when they needed it. Medicines were managed safely and people received their medicines as prescribed.
People were supported by staff who had the knowledge and skills to provide safe and appropriate care and support. People were supported to make decisions and staff knew how to act if people did not have the capacity to make decisions.
People were supported to maintain their nutrition and staff were monitoring and responding to people’s health conditions.
People lived in a service where staff listened to them. People’s needs were recognised and responded to by a staff team who cared about the individual they were supporting. People were supported to enjoy a social life.
People were involved in giving their views on how the service was run and there were systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided.