Background to this inspection
Updated
2 February 2023
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
Two inspectors carried out this inspection.
Service and service type
The Hawthorns 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. The Hawthorns is a care home with 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.
What we did before the inspection
The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
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 all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with the managing director, the deputy manager, the activities lead co-ordinator, 7 care workers, 1 nurse, 5 people and 4 relatives. We looked at 8 people's care records in full, this included people's medication administration records and a selection of documentation about the management and running of the service. We looked at recruitment information for 10 members of staff, staff training records, policies and procedures, feedback surveys from people and staff and records of compliments and complaints.
Updated
2 February 2023
About the service
The Hawthorns is a residential care home providing nursing and personal care to up to 105 people. The service provides support to people with a range of needs including neurological rehabilitation, general nursing and some living with a dementia. At the time of inspection 84 people were using the service.
People’s experience of using this service
People who lived at the service received extremely high-quality, personalised support from a well-led service. Feedback received from people, relatives, staff and professionals about the support provided to people was extremely positive.
People were fully integrated into the local community. People had access to an abundance of activities which enhanced their wellbeing and sense of purpose. The staff were extremely passionate and continuously looked for new activities or events for people to be part of to minimise social isolation.
Staff were fully committed to providing a truly person-centred service. Staff were very proud to work for the service and said they felt supported by the whole management team. People said staff were undoubtedly caring and knew their needs very well. People were treated with the utmost respect by compassionate and kind staff.
There was an exceptionally strong and visible person-centred culture. The genuinely welcoming and inclusive conduct of staff meant people felt relaxed and respected.
Staff demonstrated effective skills in communication. Recruitment checks were in place to ensure staff were suitable to work at the service. Staff had received training and support to enable them to carry out their role.
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 Hawthorns has extremely strong links with the local community, due to their passion and dedication they have built-up long-standing relationships with members of the public as well as leading on numerous charitable initiatives.
Staff were committed to improving people’s quality of life and promoting their independence through rehabilitation.
Staff provided an abundance of therapeutic and social activities for people that were tailored to their own preferences and aspirational goals.
People received their medicines safely and on time and their health was well managed. Staff had positive links with health care professionals which promoted people's wellbeing.
The registered manager provided strong leadership and proactively considered how they could enhance the service. There was a positive staff culture and staff were empowered to achieve the best outcomes for people through adopting a supportive teamwork approach to their work. Complaints procedures were in place, but people told us they have never needed to raise a complaint.
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 15 May 2020) and there were breaches of regulations.
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
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
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 until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.