Lincoln Healthcare Group Limited was rated Good overall following inspections on 17 and 21 April 2023, with both Safe and Well-led key questions rated Good. The service demonstrated improvements in medicines management since the previous inspection, strong safeguarding practices, sufficient staffing, and a positive person-centred culture.
Strengths
· Medicines managed safely following improvements since last inspection; staff trained in medicine management and signing medication charts.
· Robust safeguarding processes in place; all staff had safeguarding training including refresher training.
· Sufficient staffing levels with spot checks to monitor practice; people reported staff were never late.
· Effective infection prevention and control; appropriate use of PPE confirmed by people using the service.
· Positive, inclusive and empowering culture; strong family and person feedback about management and staff.
Lincoln Healthcare Group Limited was rated Good across all five key questions following an unannounced inspection in July 2015, with no regulatory breaches identified. The service demonstrated strong safeguarding practice, consistent person-centred care, well-trained and supported staff, and effective quality assurance systems.
Strengths
· People felt safe with their support workers and staff demonstrated clear knowledge of safeguarding procedures and reporting responsibilities.
· Stable, experienced staff group with average employment exceeding five years; consistent care teams assigned to individuals.
· Comprehensive staff training programme aligned to Care Certificate standards with high NVQ qualification rates (68 of 84 workers held NVQ level 2).
· Regular three-monthly supervision and annual appraisals in place; staff felt supported and able to raise concerns freely.
· Person-centred care plans developed with full involvement of people using the service, including choices on gender of worker, routines and preferences.
Lincoln Healthcare Group Limited is rated Good overall, with a Requires Improvement rating for Safe due to insufficiently detailed medicines records and a MAR coding system that did not capture all administration events. All other key questions remain Good, with strong person-centred care, consistent staffing, robust recruitment, and positive feedback from people, relatives, and external healthcare professionals.
Concerns (5)
moderateMedication management: “medicines records we checked were not fully detailed or up to date in all cases. For example, one person's had four different lists of medicines in place”
moderateMedication management: “The medicines administration records (MAR) did not have enough codes to record every eventuality. For example, if family had administered the person's medicines.”
minorMedication management: “one staff member said they would put a dropped medicine 'down the sink' contrary to the provider's disposed medicines procedure”
minorGovernance: “Medicines audits were completed but we found they needed to be more robust.”
minorSupervision / appraisal: “We noted that support sessions were behind schedule but the manager had planned these to take place.”
Strengths
· People consistently reported feeling safe and well supported by care staff in their own homes.
· Robust staff recruitment process including DBS checks, two references, and Care Certificate induction.
· Staff trained in key topics including moving and handling, medicines, safeguarding, and epileptic seizure management; 47 staff held Level 3 diplomas.
· Strong continuity of care with people reporting long-standing relationships with the same carers.
· Person-centred approach with people involved in care planning and given choice and autonomy.