Archived: Hillside

Updated 29 November 2017

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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on the 25 October 2017. The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Before the inspection, we asked the provider to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We looked at previous inspection reports and notifications about important events that had taken place in the service, which the provider is required to tell us by law.

Prior to this inspection we reviewed all the information we held about the service, including data about safeguarding and statutory notifications. Statutory notifications are information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. We spoke with the local authority to gain their feedback as to the care that people received. We used all this information to decide which areas to focus on during our inspection.

We spoke with two people who used the service and one relative. In addition we had discussions with the provider/registered manager, and two care staff.

We looked at two people’s care files to see if their records were accurate and reflected their current needs. We also reviewed two staff recruitment files, staff duty rotas, training records and further records relating to the management of the service, including quality audits in order to ensure that robust quality monitoring systems were in place.

Updated 29 November 2017

This comprehensive inspection was carried out on 25 October 2017.

Hillside provides residential care and support to five adults with learning disabilities and enables them to maintain their own independence. The service is situated in the suburbs of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. There were four people using this service at the time of our inspection.

At the last Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection on 04 December 2016 the service was rated Good in four domains and outstanding in the caring domain.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

The service had a registered manager. The provider for the service was also the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons.’ Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The service continued to provide excellent person centred care that had a positive impact on people's lives. Staff, relatives, and people living at the service felt the care was exceptional, compassionate and people were enabled to have a good quality life. Staff provided care and support in a very caring and meaningful way and people had developed positive relationships with them. Staff always treated people with respect, kindness and courtesy. They knew the people who used the service well and placed them at the centre of their care.

People continued to receive safe care. Staff had received training to enable them to recognise signs and symptoms of abuse and felt confident in how to report them. People had risk assessments in place to enable them to be as independent as they could be in a safe manner. Effective recruitment processes were in place and followed by the service and there were enough staff to meet people’s needs. People received their medicines safely and as prescribed.

The care that people received continued to be effective and meet their needs. There were sufficient staff, with the correct skill mix, on duty to support people with their care. Staff received an induction process when they first commenced work at the service and in addition also received on-going training to ensure they were able to provide care based on current practice when supporting people.

People were supported to make decisions about all aspects of their life; this was underpinned by the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. Staff were knowledgeable of this guidance and correct processes were in place to protect people. Staff were well supported with regular supervisions and appraisals. People were supported to maintain good health and nutrition.

People continued to receive care that was responsive to their needs. Care plans had been developed with them to identify what support they required and how they would like this to be provided. People knew how to complain if they had any concerns. There was a complaints procedure in place which was accessible to all.

The culture was open and honest and focused on each person as an individual. Staff put people first, and were committed to continually improving each person's quality of life. Quality assurance systems ensured people received a high quality service driven by improvement.