Hillcrest Care Home

Updated 15 February 2022

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of COVID-19, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practice is safe and that services are compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 3 February and was unannounced.

Updated 15 February 2022

Hillcrest Care Home is a residential ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service is registered to provide personal care and accommodation for up to 34 people, including older people, people living with a dementia and people living with a physical disability. The service provides care in one adapted building over three floors and has a garden area. At the time of our inspection there were 28 people living at the service.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

There were systems and processes in place to protect people from the risk of harm. Staff were able to tell us about different types of abuse and were aware of action they should take if abuse was suspected.

Care plans contained information about how people preferred to be supported and risks to people's safety. These had been assessed by staff and regularly reviewed. This enabled staff to have the guidance they needed to help people to remain safe and receive the care they chose.

Medicines were stored and administered safely and the premises were well maintained to keep people safe.

Staffing levels were sufficient to meet people's needs. We found safe recruitment and selection procedures were in place and appropriate checks had been undertaken before staff began work. Staff received the support and training they needed to give them the skills and knowledge to meet people's assessed needs.

We saw people were provided with a choice of healthy food and drinks which helped to ensure their nutritional needs were met. People were supported to maintain good health and had access to healthcare professionals and services.

People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Staff understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards which meant they were working within the law to support people who may lack capacity to make their own decisions.

The care provided was person centred and we observed positive interactions between people and staff. Staff treated people with dignity and respect; they knew people well and could anticipate their needs. People told us they were happy and felt well cared for.

The provider had a system in place for responding to people's concerns and complaints. People were regularly asked for their views. There were effective systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.