Lime Tree House Residential Home

Updated 5 January 2023

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was undertaken by one inspector.

Service and service type

Lime Tree House Residential Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Lime Tree House Residential Home is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection and sought feedback from the local authority. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make.

We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

During the inspection we reviewed the records of the home. These included training and supervision records, accidents and incidents and quality assurance audits. We looked at four care plans and risk assessments along with other relevant documentation to support our findings.

During the inspection process we spoke with most people who lived at the home and gathered feedback from four of them. We also gathered feedback from the relatives and representatives of seven people. We spoke with 12 staff members, including the registered manager.

We spent time observing people in areas throughout the home and could see the interaction between people and staff. We watched how people were being cared for by staff in communal areas, this included the lunchtime meals.

Updated 5 January 2023

About the service

Lime Tree House Residential Home is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care up to 30 people. The service provides support to older people. At the time of our inspection there were 24 people living at the home.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

There was a positive culture at the home. People were supported by staff who knew them well and understood their care and support needs and individual choices.

Assessments were completed before people moved into the home to ensure their needs could be met. Care plans were developed and regularly updated. These were person-centred and reflected the care and support people wished for and needed. Care plans contained clear guidance for staff and daily records were completed appropriately.

People’s nutritional needs were assessed and met. People were given choices of food and drink throughout the day. Specialist diets were provided when required. People were supported to maintain and improve their health. There were regular discussions with health and social care professionals.

Staff had the knowledge and skills to support people effectively. They received regular training and supervision. The home was well maintained and met people’s needs. People were involved in design and re-decoration choices.

Quality assurance systems had been developed. The registered manager had good oversight of the home and was aware where improvements and developments were needed.

The home was clean and tidy throughout, systems were in place to ensure people were protected from the risk of infection.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 9 August 2019) and there were breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

We carried out unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 17 June 2019. Breaches of legal requirements were found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve Need for Consent and Good Governance.

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Effective and Well-led which contain those requirements.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has changed from Requires Improvement to Good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Lime Tree House Residential Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.