CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Syne Hills Care Home Limited
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home was meeting infection prevention and control guidelines. They found safe arrangements for visitors, admissions, personal protective equipment, testing, cleaning, social distancing and managing outbreaks.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, December 2020
Syne Hills Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control during a COVID-19 outbreak.
Inspectors visited the home on 24 and 25 November 2020. This was an announced, targeted inspection focused on infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inspectors found clear information about restrictions and infection control. The home had enough personal protective equipment, regular cleaning, staff training, testing, social distancing and plans for shielding and isolation.
Inspectors said a recent COVID-19 outbreak had been managed well. People were supported to keep in touch with relatives through calls, video links and socially distanced visits.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give an overall rating or ratings for the wider quality of care. It only records what inspectors found about infection prevention and control.
Infection control
Inspectors found that the home had clear infection control measures, enough protective equipment and up-to-date policies.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Cleaning
The home had an enhanced cleaning programme and regularly cleaned frequently touched surfaces.
“There was an enhanced cleaning programme in place at the service and the service was visibly clean and well maintained.” from the report
Managing the outbreak
Inspectors found that a recent COVID-19 outbreak had been managed well, with plans used safely to protect people.
“A recent outbreak of COVID 19 at the service had been managed well and the plans in place to support people had been utilised safely.” from the report
Keeping families in touch
People could contact relatives by telephone or video. Socially distanced visits were also arranged when restrictions allowed.
“People were supported to keep in touch with their relatives via telephone calls or video links.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01Are the testing arrangements for residents and staff still in place, and how are positive or symptomatic people supported?
- 02How are visitors currently screened and supported to follow infection prevention procedures?
- 03What arrangements are used now for visits with relatives, including visits for people who cannot use telephone or video calls?
- 04How often are high-use touch points cleaned, and how is this checked?
- 05Can you show us the latest full CQC inspection ratings for areas not covered by this targeted inspection?
This was an announced, targeted inspection of infection prevention and control practices only; it was inspected but not rated and did not assess the other four questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 December 2020 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, September 2019
Syne Hills Care Home Limited was rated Good overall, with safe, kind and person-centred care, although a few improvements were noted.
This was an unannounced inspection on 2 and 3 September 2019. Inspectors spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and healthcare professionals. They observed care and checked care plans, medicines records, training, policies and maintenance records.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People were described as safe, comfortable and relaxed in a clean, homely setting. Staff knew people's needs and preferences, and medicines, staffing and risk management were found to be well managed.
The home kept its overall Good rating from the previous inspection in 2016. Safe improved from Requires Improvement to Good. Inspectors noted that the first floor could be made more suitable for people living with dementia, and identified a small number of areas for further development.
Kind and respectful staff
People and relatives consistently described staff as compassionate and patient. Staff knew people's preferences and maintained their dignity.
“Feedback from people and their relatives was consistently extremely positive about staff compassion and patience.” from the report
Safe medicines and staffing
Medicines were stored, given and checked safely. Staffing levels were considered suitable, and agency staff were not being used.
“Medicines were managed safely, including storage, administration, disposal and all relevant training and competency assessments of staff.” from the report
Good activities and community links
The home offered group and individual activities, outings and opportunities to stay connected with the local community. Inspectors described this as a particular strength.
“Group activities and outings, via the service's own minibus, were a particular strength.” from the report
Involvement in decisions
People were involved in decisions about meals, activities, décor and the running of the home. Relatives said the manager was approachable.
“Discussions at these meetings were used to plan future outings, menus and the décor of the building.” from the report
First floor dementia environment
minorThe first floor was accessible but did not fully reflect best practice for dementia-friendly environments. The report says improvements would be beneficial.
“The first floor would benefit from improvements in line with dementia friendly environments best practice.” from the report
CCTV consent records
minorPeople and relatives were happy with CCTV in communal areas, but consent had not yet been recorded in people's care records.
“although the home manager acknowledged they needed to document this consent in people's care records.” from the report
End of life conversations
minorEnd of life training and care plans were in place. The home also recognised that it needed to review how it started these conversations with people and relatives.
“The home manager planned to build on this training and review how they broached initial conversations with people and their relatives, as they acknowledged this could at times be difficult.” from the report
- 01What improvements have you made, or do you plan to make, to the first floor for people living with dementia?
- 02How do you record and review consent for CCTV in communal areas?
- 03How do you start conversations about end of life wishes with residents and their relatives?
- 04How will you make sure activities and outings are suitable for my relative's interests, abilities and communication needs?
- 05How are people and relatives involved in decisions about meals, activities, décor and care?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five quality areas, the premises and the care provided; the previous overall rating was Good and the Safe rating improved from Requires Improvement. This explanation was written from the published report of 25 September 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 Syne Hills Care Home Limited
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Syne Hills Care Home Limited →
- September 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Syne Hills Care Home Limited →
- December 2016GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 September 2011.
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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9 live-in carers within about an hour of Lincolnshire
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.
8 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Martin was more than a carer, he managed the home and became my uncle's best friend, enriching his life during his last few years.”
“Magda was always positive and proactive about trying new things to keep dad busy. She also introduced new ideas for keeping dad healthy.”
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.