HF Trust - Lympne Place (High Trees and The Beeches)

Updated 29 April 2025

Date of Assessment: 6 May to 13 May 2025. The service comprises of two residential care homes to support autistic people and people with a learning disability. The service is registered to accommodate up to 12 people.

We undertook this assessment due to concerns we received about people’s care and treatment.

We assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.

The service was in breach of two legal regulations. The provider did not have effective systems in place to identify, monitor and manage risks for people. This included the safe management of medicines. The provider did also not have robust quality monitoring processes to ensure the effective oversight of the service.

We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.

Staff were recruited safely, received a wide range of training and were available in sufficient numbers to support people. Staff knew people well treated people with dignity and respect. People were supported with their health care needs and to take part in activities they enjoyed.

Updated 29 April 2025

People told us they went on holidays and outings in addition to their responsibilities of looking after their home. We observed staff were able to effectively communicate with people who had limited or no verbal communication. People and staff shared their meals together so mealtimes were an important social occasion.

Relatives told us staff treated people with dignity and respect and remained calm when people became anxious or upset. Relatives told us that people were helped to keep their home clean and tidy. They said that staff were kind and caring. However, there were mixed views from relatives about how staff and managers communicated with them and addressed their concerns.