Background to this inspection
Updated
21 June 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 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
This inspection was carried out by an inspector.
Service and service type
The Limes is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under 1 contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. 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
The inspection was unannounced.
What we did before inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. 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 received feedback about the service from social care and health commissioners, and the local safeguarding team. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We visited the service on 12 April 2023 and 9 May 2023. We spoke with the 2 people who used the service and 9 staff including support workers, the registered manager, the deputy manager and team leaders. We reviewed a range of records. This included the 2 people’s care plans and risk assessments, day to day care records and medicines records. We checked a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including 3 staff files in relation to recruitment, training, and staff supervision. We requested additional evidence to be sent to us. This included policies and procedures, further staffing and training information, and provider quality assurance audits. We used this information as part of our inspection. We spoke with 2 relatives by telephone, to gain their views about the service.
Updated
21 June 2023
About the service
The Limes is a ‘care home’ that provides care and support for up to 12 younger adults who have learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. At the time of the inspection 2 people were using the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.
The service demonstrated they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.
Right Support
The provider made sure there was a culture of person-centred care and support. People and those important to them were involved in planning their care. People received support based on respect and inclusivity. Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. Staff encouraged and enabled people to take positive risks. The Limes provided an environment and service that was safe, and people told us they felt safe living there. People lived in their own flats and had been supported to personalise their homes.
Right Care
People’s care, treatment and support plans reflected their range of needs and this promoted their wellbeing People received person-centred care, which promoted their privacy, dignity and human rights. 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. Staff enabled people to access specialist health and social care support. The service worked with people to plan for when they experienced periods of distress, so their freedoms were restricted only if there was no alternative. There were enough suitably recruited and trained staff to support people to enjoy full and active lives.
Right culture
The culture was open, honest and positive. Staff valued and acted upon people’s views. The provider had a clearly defined vision and values which staff understood and followed. Staff knew their responsibilities and were confident to report any concerns to the provider. Staff evaluated the quality of support provided to people, involving the person, their families and other professionals as appropriate.
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 June 2021).
Why we inspected
The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about how the provider was safeguarding people. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks. We found no evidence during this inspection people were at risk of harm from this concern.
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.
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 remains 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 The Limes on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.