St John of God Care Services Lindisfarne

Updated 28 December 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

One inspector and an Expert by Experience carried out the inspection. 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

St John of God Care Services Lindisfarne known as Lindisfarne court is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. St John of God Care Services Lindisfarne is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

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.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. At the time of the inspection the registered manager was absent however appropriate cover was provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before 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 spoke with 9 people who used the service and 7 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We also spoke with 7 members of staff including the manager and support workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included people’s care and medication records. We looked at staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including risk assessments and procedures were reviewed. We also carried out a visual inspection of the premises.

After the inspection

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

Updated 28 December 2023

About the service

St John of God Care Services Lindisfarne known as Lindisfarne Court is a residential care home providing personal care to 12 people at the time of the inspection, The service can support up to 13 people. The service comprises of three purpose built bungalows.

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.

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

Right Support

People were supported by staff to pursue their interests. People took part in activities at home and within their local area. Staff supported people with their medicines in a way that promoted their independence and achieved the best possible health outcomes.

The service made reasonable adjustments for people so they could be fully involved in discussions about how they received support, including engagement and having a voice regionally within the registered provider. People in the service told us that staff supported them well to be independent. Staff focused on people’s strengths and promoted what they could do, so people had a fulfilling and meaningful everyday life.

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

Right Care

People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people’s privacy and dignity. They understood and responded to their individual needs. Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. The service worked well with other agencies to do so.

Right Culture

People led inclusive and empowered lives because of the ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the management and staff. People’s care, treatment and support plans had clear guidance on what people’s goals and aspirations were. The service enabled people and those important to them to work with staff to develop the service. Staff valued and acted upon people’s views. We received positive feedback from people and their family members about the service. Staff members were positive about working at the service and felt supported by the manager and the provider.

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

Rating at the last inspection and update

The last rating for the service was outstanding, published on 28 April 2018.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service and due to the length of time since the previous inspection. For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has changed from outstanding to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for

St John of God Lindisfarne on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

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.