Lime Tree House is rated Outstanding overall by the Care Quality Commission, with Outstanding ratings for how caring and how well-led the service is.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. It inspects services such as Lime Tree House to check they are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.
Lime Tree House was inspected on 16 and 23 August 2023, and rated Outstanding overall — with Outstanding ratings for how caring and how well-led the service is, and Good ratings for being safe, effective and responsive.
This was an improvement on the service's previous rating of Good, published in October 2017.
From the CQC Inspection Report
"The staff live their Christian Science values, and these align with my own beliefs."A patient, quoted in the CQC Inspection Report, August 2023
The CQC rates services against five key questions. Here is how Lime Tree House was rated at the August 2023 inspection.
Risk assessments were in place and regularly reviewed, staffing levels were consistently high, and infection control practices met local authority requirements. There were very few accidents or incidents.
Care and support was delivered in line with the Mental Capacity Act, with people's wishes for Christian Science support clearly discussed and recorded. Staff completed thorough induction and ongoing training.
People and relatives spoke without exception about being treated with exceptional kindness, dignity and respect. Care plans were detailed and person-centred, and people were actively involved in decisions about their own care.
Care plans were regularly reviewed and updated to reflect changing needs. People's spiritual and social needs were well met, and no formal complaints had been raised since the previous inspection.
Inspectors found exceptional and distinctive leadership, with a strongly positive, open culture. Lime Tree House has become the only UK training centre for Christian Science nurses, and a robust quality assurance system was in place, including monthly trustee board reviews.
Lime Tree House is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 6 people, all of whom follow the Christian Science faith and are supported by Christian Science Nurses (CSNs) — non-medical nurses trained in spiritual healing through Christian Science practices.
This inspection was prompted by a routine review of information the CQC held about the service. As with every care home inspection, infection prevention and control measures were also assessed, to check the service could respond effectively to any outbreak.
The inspection was carried out by one CQC inspector, who spoke with residents, relatives and staff, and reviewed a range of care and management records.
Lime Tree House, 264 Washway Road, Sale, Cheshire, M33 4RZ
0161 973 7956