Linford House

Updated 27 July 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.

Service and service type

Linford House 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

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

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. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke to the provider (who is also the registered manager) and the care manager. We reviewed a range of records. This included the person's care records and a variety of records relating to the management of the service including audits, policies and procedures, and infection control documentation.

After the inspection

We spoke with two support workers, and two health and social care professionals who work with the staff to support people using the service. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Updated 27 July 2021

About the service

Linford House provides accommodation and personal care for up to two adults with needs relating to learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. On the day of our inspection visit there was one person using the service.

For reasons of confidentiality we have mainly referred to ‘people using the service’ in our report. This is because we have also looked at the service’s general approach to providing care and support, and the support provided to previous people using the service.

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

Staff knew how to keep people safe and worked closely with other agencies ensure people had the support they needed. Health and social care professionals said the service went ‘above and beyond’ to keep people safe.

The service was well-staffed with a permanent team of support workers who knew people well and provided continuity of care. They were knowledgeable about people’s personal histories, backgrounds, and cultural needs. They communicated well with people using a range of methods including social stories, pictures, and signs, to enable people to make informed decisions about their own care and support.

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.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, 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 providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

The service demonstrated they met the principles of Right support, right care, right culture. People lived in personalised surroundings and were supported to determine their own lifestyles. Staff provided person-centred care in line with people’s wishes. The focus of the service was on ensuring people enjoyed a good quality of life.

The provider, care manager, and staff shared the service’s culture of providing high-quality individual care to people in the way they wanted it. The provider and care manager listened to people and acted on their ideas and suggestions.

The service was well-organised and governed. The provider and care manager carried out regular audits to review the quality of the service and made changes and improvements as necessary. They closely supported people and the staff team and were constantly available to them, providing reassurance and guidance.

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

Why we inspected

The service was registered with us on 17 May 2019 and this was its first inspection for the 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 until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.