CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Lime Tree House
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- Risks were assessed and reviewed, staffing levels were sufficient, and staff recruitment checks were completed. The home was clean and had infection control arrangements in place.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's support needs, faith wishes and future decisions were recorded. Staff received training and support, and people were helped to access health professionals in line with their faith.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- Inspectors found exceptionally kind and compassionate care. People were involved in decisions, treated with dignity and encouraged to remain as independent as possible.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were detailed, regularly reviewed and based on people's routines and preferences. People were supported with communication, social and spiritual activities, and complaints were dealt with quickly.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- Inspectors found strong leadership, high staff morale and an open culture. Audits, trustee oversight and other checks were used to monitor quality and improve the service.
What inspectors found, December 2023
Lime Tree House rated Outstanding overall; inspectors found exceptionally caring and well-led support, with safe, effective and responsive care rated Good.
Inspectors visited on 16 and 23 August 2023. One inspector spoke with people, relatives and staff, observed care, and reviewed care records, recruitment files and management records. Infection prevention and control was also checked.
People and relatives were very positive about the home. Inspectors found that people's Christian Science faith, personal wishes and independence were central to their care. Staff were described as kind, respectful and compassionate.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective and Responsive care. It was rated Outstanding for Caring and Well-led. The overall rating was Outstanding. The previous overall rating was Good, published on 7 October 2017.
Faith and personal wishes
The home built care around people's Christian Science beliefs and individual choices. These wishes were discussed and recorded.
“People's faith and individual wishes were at the heart of the service.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives consistently praised the staff. Inspectors saw staff treating people with dignity, compassion and respect.
“Staff demonstrated extremely compassionate, kind, and caring approaches, consistently encouraging people's independence.” from the report
Independence and progress
Staff encouraged people to do as much as possible for themselves. Some people had been supported to regain enough independence to return home.
“People were repeatedly and successfully supported to make a difference to their own lives in line with their diverse needs, and their desired goals.” from the report
Strong leadership
The home had an open culture, high staff morale and a robust system for checking quality. Leadership was rated Outstanding.
“An effective, robust quality assurance system was in place.” from the report
Safe staffing and environment
There were two Christian Science Nurses on each shift. The home was clean and adapted to meet people's moving, handling and personal care needs.
“There were always 2 CSNs on each shift.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you arrange medical support if my relative needed it, while continuing to respect their Christian Science wishes?
- 02How would you support my relative if their care needs changed or they could no longer make decisions?
- 03How would you encourage my relative to remain independent and work towards returning home, if that was their goal?
- 04How are people's care plans updated when their needs or preferences change?
- 05How many staff would be on duty for my relative, including when trainees are present?
This inspection considered all five key questions and included care, the premises and infection prevention and control arrangements. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 December 2023 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.
What inspectors found, October 2017
Rated Good overall; inspectors found outstanding, compassionate care, strong support for independence and a service built around Christian Science beliefs.
This was a comprehensive inspection of the home on 3 August 2017. The report says the inspection was announced. Inspectors spoke with three people, one relative and staff, and reviewed care records, training records and management checks.
The home supported five people with short-term and long-term residential care. People followed Christian Science practices and received non-medical support from Christian Science Nurses. Inspectors found people were safe, supported by suitably trained staff, involved in their care and helped to access health professionals when needed.
Caring was rated Outstanding. Inspectors saw patient and compassionate support, respect for people's beliefs and good efforts to help people regain independence. Safe, Effective, Responsive and Well-led were each rated Good.
The home was rated Good overall. This means inspectors found the service met the required standards at the time of this inspection, with caring judged to be especially strong.
Compassionate care
People and relatives consistently praised the kindness and compassion of staff. Inspectors observed calm, patient interactions and trusting relationships.
“Without exception people and relatives spoke highly of the caring and compassionate care provided and how they were treated as individuals.” from the report
Support for independence
Staff encouraged people to build confidence and independence at their own pace. Inspectors saw support that helped a person regain mobility and return home.
“People were supported to regain their independence by staff who were patient and understood people's agreed outcomes.” from the report
Respect for beliefs
The home respected people's Christian Science beliefs and their preference for non-medical support. Spiritual needs were included in care planning and daily life.
“People's religious beliefs and practices were considered throughout the support provided, which was an important part of people's daily lives and this was promoted and respected by all staff.” from the report
Training and staffing
Inspectors found enough staff and safe recruitment checks. Staff received an intensive induction, ongoing training and extended mentoring.
“Staff received intensive induction and further training to ensure that they were confident to provide support to people.” from the report
Listening and improvement
The manager sought views from people and staff and acted on suggestions. Quality checks, feedback systems and provider oversight were in place.
“This meant that the provider had a clear overview of the service and strived to make improvements by listening to the views of people and staff.” from the report
Non-medical care model
minorThe home did not provide medicines or medical interventions. People signed an agreement confirming that they did not want medical intervention, so this needs careful discussion if your relative's health needs or wishes may change.
“We found there were no medicines or medical interventions at the service.” from the report
- 01How would you support my relative if their health needs changed and they needed medical treatment?
- 02How would you record and follow my relative's wishes if they lost the ability to make decisions about their care?
- 03How would you help my relative regain or maintain their independence, and how would you manage the related risks?
- 04What training and mentoring would the staff supporting my relative have completed?
- 05How would my relative's spiritual beliefs, routines, communication needs and preferred activities be included in their care plan?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions and the overall rating, with one inspector reviewing records and speaking with people, a relative, staff and managers. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 October 2017 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 Tree House
3 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- December 2023Outstandingcurrent ratingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Outstanding
- October 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 15 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.
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What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Trafford
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. 91 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Primrose is a very kind and compassionate healthcare professional”
“She is an exemplary carer, she is knowledgable empathetic and very respectful in the home.”
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.