Lindisfarne Ouston

Updated 16 February 2022

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 25 January 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection.

Updated 16 February 2022

About the service

Lindisfarne Ouston provides nursing and personal care for a maximum of 57 older people on two floors in one purpose built building. At the time of our inspection visit there were 43 people using the service, the majority of whom were living with a dementia.

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

Medicines were managed safely. Some practices were not always in line with best practice and the registered manager made the required improvements on the day of inspection.

Risk assessments were in place. Staff used good practice guidance and processes to record and manage these risks.

Staffing levels did not always allow staff sufficient time to provide people with the patient, person-centred and dignified care they needed. We have made a recommendation about this. People felt safe and well looked after. The premises were well maintained and clean.

Staff understood people’s needs well and ensured people accessed primary healthcare, such as GPs and dentists.

The premises had elements of dementia-friendly design but some of the spaces on the first floor had not been sufficiently utilised to the benefit of people using the service. We have made a recommendation about this.

Relatives felt welcome and confirmed they were involved in the implementation of care plans and reviews.

Activities were regular and varied. The provider has employed another member of staff to support this as it was currently difficult for one member of staff to adequately plan and deliver a range of activities. We have made a recommendation around activities for people living with a dementia.

There were some positive and proactive community links in place.

The majority of relatives and external professionals had positive experiences of dealing with the management of the service. There were mixed views from external professionals about how welcome they felt when visiting the service.

Systems and processes were in place to ensure incidents, accidents, complaints and trends could be analysed for patterns.

Staff received appropriate training and knew their roles well. They felt they had the right support to do their jobs.

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.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 8 March 2017). There was also an inspection on 4 October 2019 however, the report following that inspection was withdrawn as there was an issue with some of the information that we gathered.

Why we inspected

This is a planned re-inspection because of the issue highlighted above.

Follow up

We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.