Hill Brow

Updated 2 April 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 the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had 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 18 February 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours notice of the inspection.

Updated 2 April 2022

About the service:

Hill Brow is a residential care home that was providing personal care to 28 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. Hill Brow is purpose built over two floors, with secure entry and a lift. People have access to landscaped gardens.

People’s experience of using this service:

Overall people were happy and satisfied with the service they received. A person said, “Yes this is a good home and I think they run it very well. They try very hard - you can’t please everyone but for me this is a good place.”

Since the last inspection the provider had introduced new initiatives to effectively meet people’s mental health needs and monitor their frailty levels. They had participated in local and national initiatives to improve people’s care. They had trialled a clinical development lead for people. There was a strong learning culture. People received their care from staff who were well trained and well supported within their role.

The service was exceptionally responsive when identifying and meeting people’s individual needs, as staff underwent graduated training to understand the needs of people living with dementia. Staff were responsive to people’s suggestions and supported people to achieve their goals such as holidays. The provider ensured relatives were well supported at the end of people’s lives through the introduction of a ‘scrap book’ and the end of life basket.

There was a visibly person-centred culture, underpinned by the provider’s principles, values and expectations of staff. People received kind, caring and compassionate care from permanent staff, there was zero use of agency staff.

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

The service was well led. The recent change in manager of the service had been managed seamlessly for people. People’s views about their care were regularly sought and any feedback was acted upon. Working in partnership with other agencies and professionals, the service achieved positive outcomes for people in line with their needs and preferences.

The home has been rated Outstanding overall as it met the characteristics for this rating in two of the five key questions. More information is in the full report, which is on the CQC website at: www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection:

At the last inspection the service was rated good (08 March 2017).

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection based on the previous inspection rating.

Follow up:

We did not identify any concerns at this inspection. We will therefore re-inspect this service within the published timeframe for services rated outstanding. We will continue to monitor the service through the information we receive.