Lanercost House - Carlyle Suite

The service operates as a complex behaviour unit located within the grounds of Lanercost House. Other units within Lanercost House were not part of this assessment; however, we visited shared areas such as the laundry and kitchen.

During this unannounced inspection, we assessed the quality statements under all key questions; safe, caring, effective, responsive and well-led.

The service provided safe, effective and person-centred care within a positive and supportive environment. There was a positive atmosphere in the home, and the staff treated people living there and visitors with warmth and kindness. The service demonstrated a strong caring culture. Staff consistently interacted with people in a respectful way. They knew people well and provided support that reflected individual needs and preferences.

Safe recruitment processes were followed, including appropriate pre-employment checks to ensure staff were suitable to work with vulnerable people. Staff completed induction, received regular training, and had ongoing support through supervision. This helped them feel confident and competent in their role.

There was a positive culture of safety. Staff understood how to identify and report incidents and safeguarding concerns, and learning was shared to reduce the risk of recurrence. The provider worked effectively with external partners to support safe transitions and continuity of care. Systems were in place to maintain a safe environment.

Staff worked with healthcare professionals to support people’s health and wellbeing and to achieve positive outcomes. Monitoring systems were in place to review care and respond to changes.

People were supported to maintain their independence, choice and control. Care plans reflected people’s preferences, and systems were in place to involve people and those important to them in decisions and improvements.

Leadership was visible and supportive. Staff spoke positively about the culture and felt able to raise concerns. Governance systems were in place and were effective in many areas, although these had not identified all issues found during the inspection. Leaders recognised this and demonstrated a strong commitment to strengthening oversight.

The provider worked well with partners and maintained links with the local community. They also showed a willingness to improve, including using technology and learning from incidents.

Most areas of care safety were well managed, however some areas required improvement. Risk assessments and care planning were not always consistently recorded or robust, and aspects of medicines management had not always been fully identified through audit processes. Leaders responded promptly and took action during and following the inspection to address these concerns.