CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Lime Street
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- People felt safe and risk assessments were specific to their needs. Medicines and staffing were managed safely, but some parts of the premises needed repair and tidying.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff understood people's health needs and received suitable training and support. People's choices and consent were respected, although some applications for legal safeguards were awaiting local authority action.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- People were involved in decisions about their care and the running of the home. Inspectors found exceptionally compassionate relationships and respect for people's individuality.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Care was adapted to people's changing mental, physical and emotional needs. Activities were varied and personal, and people were supported to build links in the community and avoid social isolation.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- The home had an open and inclusive culture, with people meaningfully involved in its management. Audits, management oversight and plans for future leadership were in place.
What inspectors found, February 2019
Lime Street was rated Outstanding; inspectors found exceptional caring, responsive support and leadership, with only some repairs and follow-up work noted.
Inspectors visited without warning on 15 January 2019. They spoke with four people, five staff members, three relatives and a health and social care professional. They also observed care and checked care records, medicines, training, recruitment, audits and maintenance records.
The overall rating was Outstanding. Caring, Responsive and Well-led were Outstanding. Safe and Effective were Good. Inspectors found people were treated with patience and respect, had real involvement in how the home was run, and were supported to pursue their interests and take part in the local community.
People were supported by trained staff who understood their needs. Medicines were managed safely, staffing levels were suitable and care plans were detailed. The home had no complaints at the time of the inspection, although some premises repairs and follow-up on applications for legal safeguards were still needed.
The home had also been rated Outstanding at the previous inspection in May 2016. The overall rating stayed the same, while the rating for Caring improved to Outstanding.
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives gave exceptionally positive feedback. Staff understood people's communication needs and treated them as individuals and peers.
“People's opinions of the home and the staff at all levels were outstanding.” from the report
People have a real voice
People helped make decisions about the home, took part in meetings and training videos, and were involved in recruiting staff and planning their care.
“People had been encouraged over a number of years to be as involved as they wanted to be in the running of the home.” from the report
Excellent activities and community links
Activities were based on individual interests and included music, walking, cinema and photography. People were supported to make connections in their local community.
“The range of activities in place was excellent and tailored to each person's individual needs and preferences.” from the report
Strong leadership
Inspectors found an open, welcoming culture with clear management oversight, regular audits and plans to make the service sustainable.
“The service continued to be led exceptionally well by a registered manager who was passionate about people who used the service having a high quality of life and independence.” from the report
Some repairs were still needed
minorThe premises needed ongoing repair and tidying. The upstairs bathroom was identified as the main priority, with refurbishment plans in progress.
“The premises were in need of some ongoing repair and tidying.” from the report
Some legal safeguard applications were awaiting action
needs fixingApplications had been made but the local authority had not yet approved or assessed them. The manager planned to follow this up.
“Where DoLS applications had been made, the local authority had yet to approve or assess the application.” from the report
- 01What repairs and tidying work has been completed since the inspection, particularly in the upstairs bathroom?
- 02Are all applications for Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards now approved or assessed, and what action was taken to follow them up?
- 03How would my relative be involved in planning and reviewing their care?
- 04Which activities and community opportunities could be matched to my relative's interests?
- 05How do you make sure staff understand my relative's communication needs and changing mental health needs?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five key questions, and the CQC checked care, premises, records, medicines, staffing, training and management systems. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 February 2019 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Lime Street
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Outstanding rating throughout.
- February 2019Outstandingcurrent ratingstayed OutstandingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- July 2016OutstandingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 9 December 2010.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
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What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Worcestershire
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £980 to £1,260 a week. 85 can care for a couple. 9 years' experience on average.
“I have never met a person who is so kind and thinks about others before himself to such an extent as Chris Malagala.”
“She was very caring, kind and patient to all his needs, she built up a wondetful rapport with him, she was dedicated and was there for him through good times as well as through the tough times”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.