Islington care home praised by inspectors in latest CQC inspection

 

A national care watchdog has given an Islington care home its seal of approval, with inspectors commending the home’s warm and friendly atmosphere.  

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has awarded Care UK’s Lennox House, on Durham Road, a ‘good’ rating overall and in all five categories, including being safe, effective, caring, well-led and responsive, following an unannounced inspection. 

Inspectors praised the home’s person-centred approach to care and the strong relationships that have been built between the team and residents, noting that people living in the home and their relatives felt team members were “well trained to support them and respectful” and that they felt “listened to and well communicated with.”

They observed that residents were well looked-after  and actively involved in their own person-centred and individualised care plans, and when residents did not  have the capacity to make these decisions, their relatives were involved. Team members were recognised as knowing residents on a personal level, meaning they could advocate for residents when planning their care. 

The home’s catering team was praised for understanding residents' nutritional needs and preparing meals to meet individual dietary requirements or personal preferences. The good selection of food available at Lennox House was also noted when inspectors spoke to residents and relatives; for example, residents being able to choose between a fully cooked breakfast or a continental breakfast in the mornings. 

The report also highlighted the efforts of the management team to ensure equality for all residents, including investing in training from a charity that supports the blind to help the team support residents with visual impairments. 

The lifestyle team at Lennox House is dedicated to helping residents live fulfilling lives, which was reflected in the CQC report. It noted how residents are asked about their wishes and encouraged to collaborate with the team on future events and activities that they can take part in and that there was evidence of "a variety of activities on offer which reflect the interests and needs of people who live at Lennox House.” The home’s connections with local faith leaders were also recognised, supporting residents to continue practising their faith and placing importance on individual cultural beliefs. 

The CQC also noted that “People gain valuable input from Lennox House positioning itself as part of the local community”, which is something that is very important to the home. Open days are regularly hosted and well attended, including contributions from local policing and the London Fire Brigade. The home also hosts a regular Dementia Café, inviting members of the local community who may benefit to join the team and residents to share their experiences and seek support over coffee and cake. 

The report also noted the home’s dedicated Dementia Care Coach, who has expertise in living well with the condition and provides training to colleagues and the local community. 

Home Manager Adriana Stefania Bernschutz was praised for her clear vision for the home. She empowers the team to share their ideas and ways of working that they feel would benefit people, and the report noted that team members were “ambitious in their desire to provide good care.”

Adriana Stefania Bernschutz, Home Manager at Lennox House, said: “I am incredibly proud of everyone here at Lennox House. It’s wonderful to lead such a fantastic, caring, and dedicated team. Our ‘good’ rating is a testament to everyone’s hard work and the superb level of care we provide residents every day. 

“We are committed to ensuring all residents receive a unique and personalised approach to care, in a respectful and loving manner. Our aim is to help residents to continue to live active and fulfilling lives and this remains at the forefront of everything we do. 

“We are all thrilled to have received this official praise from the national inspectors and look forward to celebrating this fantastic achievement with the team and residents.”   

Lennox House has been designed to deliver the very best standards of care, and enables residents to live active and fulfilled lives. The home provides full-time residential, nursing and specialist dementia care, as well as short-term respite care, and it has its own has its own hair salon, music room and a large garden.