The Limes CHN

Updated 1 January 2021

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 Care Act 2014.

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 carried out by two inspectors, one assistant inspector and an expert by experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. .

Service and service type

The Limes Care Home is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. A registered manager means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

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. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection

During the inspection

We spoke with five people who used the service and thirteen relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with eleven members of staff including the provider, manager, senior care workers and care workers.

We looked at eight people's care records to see how their care was planned and delivered, including pre-assessment records and risk assessments. Other records we looked at included, accident and incident records, safeguarding, complaints and compliments, staff scheduling, management of medication and the provider's audits, quality assurance, infection control procedures and overview information about the service.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.

Updated 1 January 2021

About the service

The Limes is a residential care home that provides accommodation and personal care and support to a maximum of 76 older people and for some older people living with dementia. At the time of our inspection 51 people were living at the service.

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

The provider had safeguarding systems and processes in place to keep people safe. Staff knew the risks to

people and followed the assessments to ensure they met people's needs. People felt safe and were supported by staff who knew how to protect them from avoidable harm.

Staff were recruited safely and there were enough staff to meet people's needs. Staff followed the infection control procedures the provider had in place. Risks to people's health and well-being had been assessed and monitored to ensure they were kept safe. People received their medication as prescribed.

The provider had quality assurance systems with spot and competency checks of staff completed regularly. The registered manager understood their legal responsibilities in regard to safeguarding and notifications. The provider worked with other professionals such as district nurses and GP's to ensure care needs were met.

People and their relatives told us the service was well-led. They told us the management team and staff were good. Provider feedback processes had been used to gather information about the views of people, their relatives and stakeholders about the service provision.

Staff spoke positively about working for the provider. They felt well supported and that they could talk to the management team at any time, feeling confident any concerns would be acted on promptly. They felt valued and happy in their role.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 19 April 2018).

Why we inspected

We received concerns in relation the management of safeguarding incidents. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of Safe and Well-Led only.

We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the Safe and Well-Led sections of this full report.

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

Follow up

We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.