Lime Tree Court Residential Care Home

Updated 2 November 2022

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

This inspection was carried out by one 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

Lime Tree Court is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Lime Tree Court 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 service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

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

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before 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 (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 our inspection we spoke with seven people and eight relatives. We also spoke with the registered manager, deputy manager and regional manager. We spoke with six staff including, care staff and team leaders. We looked at the care records for five people and nine medicine administration records. We looked at records relating to the management of the service, including audits carried out within the home.

Updated 2 November 2022

About the service

Lime Tree Court is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 60 people in one adapted building over three floors, each of which has separate adapted facilities. The service provides support to older people, people living with Dementia and sensory impairment and younger adults. At the time of our inspection there were 49 people using the service.

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

People were supported by staff who had received training in how to safeguard people from abuse. Staff reported any concerns and incidents were investigated. Risks to people’s safety were assessed and plans put in place to reduce them. People had their medicines as prescribed.

People were supported by enough staff who had been safely recruited to the service. Where incidents occurred, the provider ensured there was learning in place to prevent these from happening again.

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.

People had their needs assessed and plans put in place to meet them. Staff were trained and had the skills to meet people’s needs. People had meals and drinks which were suitable for their needs and met their preferences.

People were supported by staff with meeting their health needs including having access to other health professionals. The provider had ensured the home was adapted to meet people’s needs and there were processes in place to ensure people received consistent support.

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.

People were supported to receive person-centred care. The provider was meeting their duty of candour. We found the provider had adopted a learning culture and changes were made following learning from events. The provider had oversight of the service through regular checks and audits which were identifying areas for improvement.

People and their relatives were positive about the service and felt involved. Staff told us they were supported and felt listened to by the registered manager.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (14 October 2021)

Why we inspected

We received concerns in relation to the management of medicines and the management of nutrition and hydration risks. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe, effective and well-led only.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the safe, effective and well led sections of this full report.

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 remained good based on the findings of this inspection.

Follow up

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