Staff at a Worthing care home are celebrating after a recent CQC inspection saw their rating improve to ‘Good’ having been recognised for being safe and well-led.

 

Linfield House, which has been owned and run by Guild Care - a Worthing-based charity - for the past 15 years, was praised for its “calm” atmosphere, while residents were “supported, relaxed and engaged.”

 

The 54-bedroom residential and nursing care home, based in Wykeham Road, Worthing, also includes an 11-bed dementia suite and was previously rated ‘Requires Improvement’. Linfield House promotes independent living, providing residents with the support and person-centred care they need to flourish, as well as supporting couples, including many cases where one has dementia, and one does not.

 

In the report, staff were found to “treat people with respect and kindness” and there were always enough staff to meet people’s needs. It was also highlighted that the management team “reviewed staffing levels according to people’s needs and occupancy levels.”

 

In addition, the report found that all staff received safeguarding training and as a result, residents were “safe and protected from avoidable harm and risk of abuse.” Residents were also “supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives. Staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests” with one resident commenting “the girls are very helpful and I definitely feel safe.”

 

This was aided by the fact that the correct policies and systems were in place to support this. The team at Linfield House also promoted a “positive and inclusive culture” which is “person-centred, open, inclusive and empowering.”

 

Guild Care looks to continuously improve services and the team at Linfield House is already working on the next plan based on the organisational values and ethos of person-centred care.

 

Annie Lewis, Director of Care Homes at Guild Care, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the results of our recent CQC report. The whole team has worked so hard to ensure the action plan dedicated to getting our rating up was enforced and that shows in this fantastic result.

 

“It was great to see the recognition of how happy and well-looked after residents are and also to hear that throughout what has been a difficult year for everyone, staff continued to feel supported. My sincere thanks to everyone who has helped us achieve this.”

 

The CQC report found that all previous concerns had been addressed by “delegation and increased monitoring within the management team” who all had clear roles and “displayed a passion for their roles.” 

 

The report also looked at infection control and whether the correct prevention measures were in place, which it was assured they were.