Hepscott Care Centre

Updated 3 December 2022

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by 1 inspector and 1 Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Hepscott Care Centre is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Hepscott Care Centre is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

Inspection activity started on 22 November 2022 and ended on 28 November 2022. We visited the location on 22 November 2022.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 10 people who used the service, 3 relatives, 1 visiting healthcare professional and 9 staff, including the registered manager, operational manager, deputy manager, 4 support workers including 1 senior support worker, activities co-ordinator and the cook.

We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

Updated 3 December 2022

About the service

Hepscott Care Centre is a residential care home providing accommodation for persons who require personal and nursing care to up to a maximum of 40 people. The service provides support to older people, including people who live with a dementia related condition. At the time of our inspection there were 30 people using the service. The care home accommodates people in one adapted building.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

There were sufficient staff to support people safely. Staff had received safeguarding training and were clear on how and when to raise their concerns. Where appropriate, actions were taken to keep people safe.

Improvements had been made to medicines management. Staff followed effective processes to assess and provide the support people needed to take their medicines safely. Staff contacted health professionals when people’s health needs changed.

People and relatives were very positive about the caring nature of staff and had good relationships with them. They trusted the staff who supported them. People’s comments included, “I think the staff are really nice and are dedicated to doing their best for me” and, “It’s like home-from-home and the cooking is very good.”

Staff followed good infection control practices. The environment was showing signs of wear and tear and the provider provided an immediate action plan of refurbishment.

Records provided guidance to ensure people received safe, person-centred care and support from all staff members. A person told us, “I don’t think there’s a better home to be in. This is perfect, staff take time with you, they are really nice, and I think they are dedicated to their job.”

There was a welcoming, cheerful and friendly atmosphere at the service. A relative told us, “This home has been an absolute lifeline to me and our family. [Name] could no longer look after themselves. Since they got here, they have not had any time in hospital, and is well-looked after by staff.”

Staff spoke positively about working at the home and the people they cared for. They said communication was effective to ensure they were kept up-to-date about any changes in people’s care and support needs.

Staff respected people's diversity as unique individuals with their own needs. The staff team knew people well and provided support discreetly and with compassion.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 29 July 2021).

The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced inspection of this service on 14 June 2021. A breach of legal requirements was found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve safe care and treatment.

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe and Well-led which contain those requirements.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has changed from Requires Improvement to Good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Hepscott Care Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.