Archived: Hilltop

Updated 3 January 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This was a comprehensive inspection. It took place on 27 and 30 November 2017 and was announced. The reason it was announced was so people who would find our visit a challenge, could be informed that we would be visiting and supported if required.

The inspection team included one adult social care inspector.

Prior to the inspection we looked at previous inspection reports. We also reviewed the information we held about the service and notifications we had received. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

We met each of the seven people using the service and received specific feedback from one of them through a conversation where they were supported by their key worker. During the inspection we also used different methods to give us an insight into people’s experience. This included informal observation throughout the inspection. Our observation enabled us to see how staff interacted with people and see how care was provided.

We spoke with two family members and three staff members, two provider representatives and the registered manager.

We reviewed two people’s care records, two staff files and looked at quality monitoring information relating to the management of the service and safety records. We received feedback from three health and social care professionals and saw other feedback from questionnaires the service had received during 2017.

Updated 3 January 2018

Hilltop is a ‘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.

Hilltop accommodates up to seven people with severe autism. They are non verbal and need high levels of support. They live in a two storey house. There were seven people using the service at the time of this inspection.

At the last inspection in September 2015 the service was rated Good.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated Good:

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives. A high emphasis was put on using technology to help people’s understanding and reduce people’s anxieties. This widened their opportunities and helped to promote their health because they had been able to access health care which was previously too stressful for them. The service worked closely with health and social care professionals toward achieving good outcomes for people. The provider organisation also ensured experts in the field of autism were available as a staff resource.

People’s safety was maintained through adequate staffing levels, which included the use of agency staff, recruitment practice, safe medicines management, premises and adequate infection control. Individual risks were understood and innovative methods used to reduce risk with as little negative effect on the person as possible.

Staff promoted people’s dignity and privacy because they were able to pre-empt situations where this might be compromised. Through listening to people’s views, using person specific communication methods and a strong staff commitment to the people in their care, the service was centred on each individual. Care plans were very detailed and reviewed with the person, staff who support the person, external professionals and family members. Staff had the time and resources to identify best practise and use this to people’s benefit.

The premises was maintained in a safe way and people had a variety of spaces available for their use.

Staff induction and on-going training ensured staff were effective in their role. Staff received a high level of support and regular supervision of their work. Staff were very happy with the level of training they received.

People’s legal rights were understood and upheld. People were safeguarded from abuse and harm.

The service was well-led through the example of the registered manager who ran a well organised service. People’s views were sought and every opportunity taken to improve the service. Audits and checks were carried out in-house and through the provider so any problem could be identified and rectified.

The registered manager understood and met their legal responsibilities.