CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Sycamores
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People told inspectors they felt safe. Staff understood safeguarding, risk plans, fire procedures and how to respond to behaviours or health risks.
- Effective?
- Good
- Care was planned around people's needs and choices. Staff had relevant training, supported nutrition and healthcare, and followed the Mental Capacity Act principles.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect. They used different communication methods and supported people to make decisions and develop independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's wishes, interests and goals. People were supported with social activities, work placements, community life, holidays and complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had an open and inclusive culture. Managers used audits, meetings and feedback to identify and complete improvements.
What inspectors found, February 2019
Rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with all five areas rated Good.
This was a planned, announced inspection on 05 February 2019. One inspector spoke with five people living at the home, observed staff, reviewed three people's care records and checked staffing, training, medicines, safeguarding, accidents and quality checks.
The inspectors found that people were safe, treated with kindness and supported to make choices. Staff understood people's needs, communication methods and risks. People were supported with food, healthcare, activities, work placements and relationships.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The report says legal requirements were met. The home was also rated Good overall at the previous inspection in July 2016.
Safety and risk support
Staff knew how to reduce risks and respond to people's individual health and behaviour needs. Risk plans were available and followed.
“Risks to people's health, safety and welfare were assessed and plans were in place to minimise the risks.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were involved in everyday decisions, including food, activities, relationships and how their rooms were arranged. Staff encouraged people to do things for themselves.
“People were supported to maintain and develop their independence.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw a warm and friendly atmosphere. Staff listened to people, respected their choices and adapted communication to their needs.
“Our observations and discussions with staff showed that they clearly knew people's needs and preferences and that they had time to listen to people.” from the report
Personalised lives
People were supported to follow their interests and goals, including work placements, community activities, holidays and religious services.
“People told us how they were supported to maintain and develop their hobbies and interests and were involved in undertaking work placements of their choice” from the report
Open management
People and staff could share ideas and concerns. Audits and meetings were used to make changes, such as improving the signing-in and signing-out system.
“There was an open and inclusive culture within the service which people and staff told us enabled them to share ideas with the registered manager and provider” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you make sure my relative's care plan and risk assessments are updated when their needs or preferences change?
- 02How will staff communicate with my relative if they use non-verbal communication, signing or gestures?
- 03How will you support my relative to make their own choices and develop independence in everyday activities?
- 04How are medicines checked if my relative is supported to keep and take them independently?
- 05How can my relative and our family raise a concern, and how will we be told what action was taken?
This was a planned inspection that examined all five CQC questions; inspectors spoke with five of the eight people living at the home and reviewed specific records for three people. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 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 The Sycamores
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 10 May 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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
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.