Lime Cottage

Updated 28 September 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 completed by one inspector.

Service and service type

Lime Cottage is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a 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. This 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

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

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 quality team. 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 made observations of the support provided throughout our inspection as the person living at Lime Cottage was not able to speak with us. We spoke with six members of staff including the business development manager, registered manager, deputy manager, team leader and support workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included one person’s care and medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke with a family member, two members of night staff and contacted two professionals who regularly visit the service.

Updated 28 September 2021

About the service

Lime Cottage is a small residential care home providing personal and nursing for one autistic person. The service can support up to four people with a learning disability and / or autistic people. Lime Cottage is a fully adapted bungalow with an accessible garden and summer house.

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

The relative we spoke with was positive about the support provided at Lime Cottage. They said the staff team met the complex needs of their relative and the communication with the home was good. They were involved in the planning of their relative’s care and support.

Person centred care plans and risk assessments provided guidance for the support the person required, including when they may become agitated. Detailed routines for the morning and evening were used to ensure consistency in the support provided. These were regularly reviewed. People received their medicines as prescribed.

The quality assurance system had been improved following a CQC inspection at another of the provider’s services. A calendar of audits was used to ensure all audits were completed, with actions taken where issues were found. Incidents were recorded and reviewed to reduce the chance of a re-occurrence. As a result of this, the morning routine had been changed to reduce the person’s anxieties.

Staff said they enjoyed working at Lime Cottage, saying the management team were approachable and supportive. There were enough staff on duty and they received the training and support needed to meet people’s assessed needs. Staff were safely recruited.

The staff team worked in partnership with other professionals, including behavioural specialist, physiotherapist, social workers, medical professionals and the community learning disability team. People’s health and nutritional needs were being met.

The home was clean throughout and the current government COVID-19 guidelines were being followed.

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.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture. Lime Cottage is a small home set in a residential area close to local amenities. Person-centred care plans were in place. Staff knew people’s needs and how to promote people’s privacy dignity and independence. Communication with people’s relatives was good.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 4 November 2019 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on when the service was first registered with the us.

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 until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.