Lyndale Residential Home

Lyndale Residential Home is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. We regulate both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The service supported people who were living with mental health issues. People living at Lyndale received help with their all aspects of their care, including their well-being and positive mental health.

The home is in Tavistock near the town centre. It has been converted from two three-storey houses which are linked through communal areas. There are bedrooms on all three floors of the home. At our last inspection we rated the service Good. There was no evidence or information from the current inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated any serious risks or concerns. All five domains (Safe, Effective, Responsive, Caring and Well-Led) remain Good. This means the service is still rated Good overall.

Why the service is rated Good

The provider and registered manager were experienced at delivering care and support to people living with a mental illness. Both of them worked together, as well as with staff and professionals, to ensure they delivered care which really reflected the person's needs.

There was a clear vision for the service which was developed by and shared with people and staff to ensure that it was agreed and understood. The vision described how the service was empowering for people, person centred and inclusive. People's achievements were recognised and celebrated. Care records including risk assessments and support plans clearly described how the person was supported to be as independent as possible. People's ambitions and preferences were recorded which ensured that staff had information to support people both when they were well and when their mental or physical health deteriorated.

Feedback from people using the service, visitors and professionals was all very positive. People described how they loved living at Lyndale and felt very well supported by the registered manager and staff.

The home was clean, comfortable and well maintained. People described Lyndale as "their home" and were clearly at ease and comfortable both in communal areas and their bedrooms which they had personalised.

Health professionals were very complimentary about the service and described how the staff were very professional, caring and effective. They also described how staff always ensured they proactively contacted and worked with health professionals to support people to maintain their health and wellbeing.

People were encouraged to stay healthy both physically and mentally. Staff supported them with this while recognising the rights of people to choose. Staff spent a lot of time encouraging people to consider their physical health, including their diet and exercise.

Staff were very skilled at supporting people who live with mental illness. Staff anticipated and supported people when they became mentally unwell to minimise the risks of a significant episode of mental illness.

Staff encouraged people to take part in social activities both inside and outside the home. Staff were innovative about engaging people in new ideas and experiences, such as food from around the world and a "Pride" event.

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

There were sufficient staff to support people safely. Staff had been recruited safely and undertook training to ensure they had the necessary skills and knowledge. Health professionals said staff really got to know people well and were knowledgeable about the signs which indicated a person was becoming unwell.

People were supported to receive safe care which responded to their needs. This included support with medicines and attending appointments with health professionals. Care plans clearly described people's risks needs and preferences. Car plans were reviewed on a regular basis to ensure they provided up to date information about each person's care.

One person was supported to have a peaceful and caring end of life surrounded by people they knew and in a place they considered to be their home. People living in the home who were affected by bereavement were actively supported by to deal with their grief.

Staff understood their responsibilities to ensure vulnerable people were safeguarded from the risks of abuse.

Quality assurance and governance systems were embedded. The provider, registered manager and staff were all involved in checks and audits to monitor the quality of care provided and the home's safety and comfort. Where issues were identified, action was taken to address them. Feedback from people, visitors, staff and professionals was used to improve the quality of the service. There were systems to monitor accidents and incidents. This included reviews which identified ways to reduce future risks.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found