Latest Inspection
This is the latest available inspection report for this service, carried out on 15th June 2010. CQC found this care home to be providing an Good service.
The inspector made no statutory requirements on the home as a result of this inspection
and there were no outstanding actions from the previous inspection report.
For extracts, read the latest CQC inspection for The Limes.
What the care home does well The people live in comfortable and homely accommodation. They are also offered choices about what they wish to do and to make decisions about how they spend their lives. Staff communicate well with them and respect their choices and decisions. They are cared for and supported by a caring, educated and committed team of staff who are aware of theirneeds and preferences. We saw throughout our inspection visit this taking place. People who live in this home told us they were happy with the facilities provided and the way the staff care and support them. People are offered a varied menu that takes into consideration their likes and dislikes. There is an enthusiastic management who leads and supports the care team. There is a programme of education and training provided for staff, which ensures that staff know how to care and support the people who live at the home. What the care home could do better: We noticed that the manager was not sending written confirmation to the person following their assessment to confirm that the service could meet their needs. She agreed to ensure this was done in the future. In addition we noticed that the way complaint`s were investigated needed a clear audit trail to show each aspect of the complaint had been investigated, acknowledgement letters, and investigation records . The manager and operations director agreed to ensure records were improved. Random inspection report
Care homes for older people
Name: Address: The Limes Main Street Scopwick Lincoln Lincs LN4 3NW two star good service The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: A quality rating is our assessment of how well a care home, agency or scheme is meeting the needs of the people who use it. We give a quality rating following a full review of the service. We call this review a ‘key’ inspection. This is a report of a random inspection of this care home. A random inspection is a short, focussed review of the service. Details of how to get other inspection reports for this care home, including the last key inspection report, can be found on the last page of this report. Lead inspector: Tobias Payne Date: 1 5 0 6 2 0 1 0 Information about the care home
Name of care home: Address: The Limes Main Street Scopwick Lincoln Lincs LN4 3NW 01526321748 01526321516 thelimes.1@tiscali.co.uk Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): Name of registered manager (if applicable) Mrs Amanda Jane Pateman Type of registration: Number of places registered: Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : Ablegrange (Lincoln) Limited care home 40 Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 40 40 dementia old age, not falling within any other category Conditions of registration: 40 0 The maximum number of service users who can be accomodated is 40 The registered person may provide the following categories of service, Care Home only to service users of the following gender, both, whose primary care needs on admission to the home are within the following categories, Old Age, not falling within any other category, Code OP Dementia, Code DE Date of last inspection Care Homes for Older People Page 2 of 9 Brief description of the care home The Limes is a single storey building and was originally a school and is situated in the village of Scopwick. There are no local shops but the home is close to the main Sleaford to Lincoln bus route. There is a railway station in Metheringham, approximately three miles away. There is a public house, a church and a small community centre nearby. The home provides personal care for people over the age of 65. There are 29 single bedrooms, sixteen en suite all of on the ground floor. There are in addition 3 spacious lounges and a large separate dining room. There are safe garden areas and a patio. Car parking is available at the front of the home. Ablegrange Ltd owns the home and we registered a new manager in May 2010. Fees given to us at this random inspection visit on the 15/6/2010 ranged from £368 to £456 for those people who have a contract with Lincolnshire County Council and from £451 to £530 who are privately funded. Addtional charges are hairdressing which ranged from £5 to £17, chiropody £12 toiletries, magazines and newspapers, transport and recreational opportunities. The home is advertised in hospital pre discharge information packs, supplied to patients and their families by the United Lincolnshire Health NHS Trust and in British Legion information literature. Information about these charges and the running of the home can be found in the statement of purpose and service users guide which, with a copy of the last key inspection report, is available in separate folders at the entrance to the home. This information can be made available in large print, Braille and in other languages on request. The last key inspection took place on the 17/7/2007. Care Homes for Older People Page 3 of 9 What we found:
This was an unannounced visit which formed a random inspection visit and took place over 3 hours and we took into account previous information held by us including the previous inspection report, their service history and records of any incidents that we had been notified of since the last inspection. During this visit we talked to the people to obtain their views about whether they felt their needs were being met and about their quality of life. We also spoke to staff to learn their views about how they felt their training and development needs were being met. We also saw how staff cared and supported people living in the home. We also spoke with the manager as well as the operations director who was present for part of our visit to learn of any changes which have taken place and if there were any risks to the people living in the home. During our visit we also spoke with 8 people living in the home, 3 staff and 2 visitors all of whom were very complimentary about the home and the care and support given. Feedback was given about the outcomes at the end of the visit. On entry to the home we saw hanging baskets on the outside of the building and found it to be welcoming with information about the home and activities taking place. The activities programme was varied and included, visits by local schools, A Race Night to celebrate Ascot Ladies Day, tea tasting, summer service, strawberry tea and a visit by Alpacas. In addition there was to be summer fete and barbecue in the future. The home was colourfully decorated throughout with pictures and flags of all nations as our inspection was during The World Cup. In the corridors were poems and flower decorations painted on the walls on the walls which had been chosen by the people. Peoples doors had door knockers and their names were on the doors. There were also clear signs indicating what the rooms were to aid orientation. We saw people sitting in the lounges talking to one another or staff listening to music or reading the paper. Everyone we saw was nicely dressed. The activity programme was clearly displayed at the entrance to the home. We spoke with 8 people all of whom were happy with the service they receive. Comments included, I like living here, the staff are very kind and helpful, I enjoy the food, I have a room which is very comfortable and suits my needs, they make sure I look nice, We have lots of activities and we often go out. We saw during our inspection a member of staff taking a person out in the sunshine in a wheelchair and later saw her return with a bunch of flowers she had picked whilst being out. We also saw a lot of laughing and talking between staff and the people living in the home. We spoke with 2 visitors who were taking their mother out for the day. They told us we can visit whenever we want to and always receive a warm and friendly welcome whenever we visit. The staff are very good and mother is very happy. We are very satisfied with this home. We spoke with 3 staff who told us, when I came here I received a supported and thorough induction, there is always a relaxing and welcoming atmosphere, I am happy at the way we care for these people, I receive regular support and I have learnt a lot as a result of the training I have received. We saw during our visit all staff working with one another and the relaxing atmosphere throughout the home. We saw the home was well maintained, clean, odour free and an attractive place to work
Care Homes for Older People Page 4 of 9 and live in. There were comfortable seating areas. We saw hand sanitisers throughout the home to aid the prevention of infection. We saw that the people were being treated in a dignified manner, staff spoke to them in a kind and caring way that was appropriate to the individual. The food was served in a dignified manner and dining tables had clean table cloths with the menu for the day on the table.. We saw a person having breakfast in the dining room. She told us that the time breakfast was served had suited the time she had got up. On the table were serial, toast, a pot of tea and marmalade and butter. We saw staff were using hoists correctly. The manager told us that staff continue to recruited correctly with a check by the Criminal Records Bureau and a supported induction. They have arranged for a representative of the people living in the home to be on the interview panel for new staff. The manager told us they also provide a range of training. Over the last year this had included, moving and handling, fire safety, adult safeguarding, first aid, dementia awareness and mental capacity. In addition 80 of staff had obtained a qualification in care to level 2 of the national vocational qualifications standards. In addition 3 staff had NVQ level 3. All staff we spoke with told us they received regular one to one supervision and were to have an annual appraisal in the future. We spoke to the manager who told us that over the past year they have improved the home by decorating 4 bedrooms and brightened up the corridors and dining room. In addition, she has encourage staff to spend more time with the people and lunch is now more relaxing with music playing. They have also extended the activity programme with activities 3 times a day and one of the lounges in the evening becomes a sensory lounge for relaxation. Staff training has been increased and as a result they have dementia, dignity and equality staff champions. When new staff start in the home as part of their supported induction they experience what it feels like to be resident for the day. This has enabled each person to get an insight about what this feels like. The manager also told us she was in the process of starting relatives group Friends of The Limes. We also saw that the home following an inspection by North Kesteven District Council on the 17/3/2010 gained 5 stars excellent in recognition of its catering standards. The manager told us that wanted to continue with making care records more personal and were in the process of introducing this improvement. Care plans are written with the assistance wherever possible of each person and their or their relative. We saw that monthly monitoring visits took place by the Operations Director and reports of these visits were available with action plans where there were any concerns. We also saw the results of a recent survey in June 2010 in which they surveyed 24 people. We saw that 11 replies had been received which were very positive. Comments we saw included, I would like to say how much you and your staff look after my mother in law, I am very satisfied with Mums overall care and My sister and I am very pleased with the overall service. The surveys were very positive. We also saw that Lincolnshire County Council carried out a quality survey in 2009 and as a result they received a good score. What the care home does well:
The people live in comfortable and homely accommodation. They are also offered choices about what they wish to do and to make decisions about how they spend their lives. Staff communicate well with them and respect their choices and decisions. They are cared for and supported by a caring, educated and committed team of staff who are aware of their
Care Homes for Older People Page 5 of 9 needs and preferences. We saw throughout our inspection visit this taking place. People who live in this home told us they were happy with the facilities provided and the way the staff care and support them. People are offered a varied menu that takes into consideration their likes and dislikes. There is an enthusiastic management who leads and supports the care team. There is a programme of education and training provided for staff, which ensures that staff know how to care and support the people who live at the home. What they could do better: If you want to know what action the person responsible for this care home is taking following this report, you can contact them using the details set out on page 2. Care Homes for Older People Page 6 of 9 Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection? Yes £ No R Outstanding statutory requirements
These are requirements that were set at the previous inspection, but have still not been met. They say what the registered person had to do to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards.
No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action Care Homes for Older People Page 7 of 9 Requirements and recommendations from this inspection:
Immediate requirements: These are immediate requirements that were set on the day we visited this care home. The registered person had to meet these within 48 hours.
No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action Statutory requirements These requirements set out what the registered person must do to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must do this within the timescales we have set.
No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action Recommendations These recommendations are taken from the best practice described in the National Minimum Standards and the registered person(s) should consider them as a way of improving their service.
No Refer to Standard Good Practice Recommendations Care Homes for Older People Page 8 of 9 Reader Information
Document Purpose: Author: Audience: Further copies from: Inspection Report Care Quality Commission General Public 0870 240 7535 (telephone order line) Our duty to regulate social care services is set out in the Care Standards Act 2000. Copies of the National Minimum Standards –Care Homes for Older People can be found at www.dh.gov.uk or got from The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering from the Stationery Office is also available: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop Helpline: Telephone: 03000 616161 Email: enquiries@cqc.org.uk Web: www.cqc.org.uk We want people to be able to access this information. If you would like a summary in a different format or language please contact our helpline or go to our website. © Care Quality Commission 2010 This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part in any format or medium for noncommercial purposes, provided that it is reproduced accurately and not used in a derogatory manner or in a misleading context. The source should be acknowledged, by showing the publication title and © Care Quality Commission 2010. Care Homes for Older People Page 9 of 9 - Please note that this information is included on www.bestcarehome.co.uk under license from the regulator. Re-publishing this information is in breach of the terms of use of that website. Discrete codes and changes have been inserted throughout the textual data shown on the site that will provide incontrovertable proof of copying in the event this information is re-published on other websites. The policy of www.bestcarehome.co.uk is to use all legal avenues to pursue such offenders, including recovery of costs. You have been warned!
