We carried out a review of the data available to us about Hillcroft Nursing Home Morecambe on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Hillcroft Nursing Home Morecambe, you can give feedback on this service.
We found the following examples of good practice
There were clear systems in place which helped ensure visitors understood and could follow best practice in relation to infection prevention and control (IPC). The service had written to relatives about recent changes to visiting and how to book in visits. Lateral flow testing (LFT) was available for nominated visitors. There were a variety of alternatives to visiting which included, window visits, social media platforms accessed through tablets on each floor which were purely for social contacts.
Staff breaks were staggered and staff rooms had been arranged to help staff maintain social distancing. An unoccupied bedroom had also been used as a staff facility which helped maintain social distancing. Staff worked in the same areas as far as was possible.
People living in the home had been supported to have regular Covid 19 tests and vaccinations. Staff continued to be tested regularly and were provided with additional information about vaccination which helped encourage the majority of staff to be vaccinated.
Personal protective equipment, (PPE) was available throughout the home. Staff were observed wearing this. Areas for staff to put on and take off PPE and to change their clothes had been provided.
The home was clean and had followed enhanced cleaning procedures in response to the pandemic.
Hillcroft Nursing Home Morecambe is one of six nursing homes in the Hillcroft group.
There are three units, two catering for people living with dementia and one with general nursing beds. The home is located in a residential area of Morecambe and has attractive grounds including an enclosed garden. At the time of our inspection there were 53 people living at the home.
The service had a 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
At the last inspection, the service was rated Good. At this inspection, the service remained Good.
During this inspection, we received comments that demonstrated people were satisfied with their care. The management and staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities. They were committed to providing good care and support to people who lived at the home.
Records we looked at indicated staff had received safeguarding from abuse training. Staff we spoke with told us they were aware of the safeguarding procedure and knew what to do should they witness any abusive actions at the rest home. One person told us, “Everything is fine, I feel perfectly safe. I never feel unsafe in here; in fact I am safe and happy.” A member of staff commented, “We have got a good culture here, we know we can report anything.”
The provider had recruitment and selection procedures to minimise the risk of inappropriate employees working with vulnerable people. Checks had been completed prior to any staff commencing work at the home. This was confirmed from discussions with staff.
We found staffing levels were suitable with an appropriate skill mix to meet the needs of people who lived at the home. The deployment of staff was structured to meet the needs of people who lived at the home.
Staff responsible for assisting people with their medicines had maintained their professional qualifications to ensure they were competent and had the skills required. Medicines were safely managed and appropriate arrangements for storing medicines were in place.
Staff received training related to their role and were knowledgeable about their responsibilities. They had the skills, knowledge and experience required to support people with their care and support needs.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice. One person told us, “The staff here are very good, the carers and nurses are always respectful.”
People who were able told us they were happy with the variety and choice of meals available to them. We saw regular snacks and drinks were provided between meals to ensure people received adequate nutrition and hydration. One person told us, “I particularly like the stews, pies and fish; they also keep me well stocked with biscuits.”
We found people had access to healthcare professionals and their healthcare needs were met. We saw the management team had responded promptly when people had experienced health problems.
Care plans were organised and had identified care and support people required. We found they were informative about care people had received. They had been kept under review and updated when necessary to reflect people’s changing needs.
People told us they were happy with the activities organised at Hillcroft Morecambe Nursing Home. The activities were arranged for individuals and for groups.
A complaints procedure was available and people we spoke with said they knew how to complain. People and staff spoken with felt the registered manager was accessible, supportive and approachable.
The registered manager had sought feedback from people who lived at the home and staff. They had consulted with people and their relatives for input on how they could continually improve. The registered provider had regularly completed a range of audits to maintain people’s safety and welfare.
The inspection at Woodlands Drive was undertaken on 09 December 2014 and was unannounced.
Woodlands Drive provides care and support for a maximum of 54 people, some of whom have dementia. At the time of our inspection the home was fully occupied. Woodlands Drive is situated in a residential area of Morecambe. All bedrooms are en suite and accommodation separated into three units, each with their own dining room and communal lounge.
There was a registered manager in place. 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
Processes were in place to safeguard people against abuse. People and their representatives told us they felt safe whilst living at the home. We observed people were comfortable and relaxed and staff engaged with them in a very caring and respectful manner. People confirmed staffing levels were sufficient for their needs and we found staff administered medication safely and effectively.
Staff worked with service users to ensure they received appropriate support. People told us they were supported to make decisions about their care. We noted people’s nutritional needs were maintained and any related issues were acted upon. We observed staff maintained individuals’ privacy and dignity throughout our inspection.
Staff checked and recorded people’s preferences and cultural needs. Care records were detailed and individualised. Care planning followed people’s assessed needs and was regularly reviewed to monitor their progress. People and their representatives told us they were fully involved in their care planning and care review. Staff effectively monitored people’s health and worked with other providers where additional support became necessary.
Staff told us they were sufficiently trained and supported to carry out their work. Records confirmed staff were experienced and enabled to support people in their care. The registered manager had ensured people were protected against unsafe and inappropriate care because staff were effectively trained and supervised.
The registered manager worked hard to ensure the home had an open working culture. People and their representatives’ views were regularly sought and acted upon as a way of checking the quality of the service. The staff and registered manager carried out frequent audits to protect the health and safety of visitors and people who lived there.
The management team and staff demonstrated good practice in working collaboratively with partner agencies in order to continuously improve the service people received. We saw a wide range of evidence that the home was well-led and the management team worked hard to provide an effective and responsive service.
We looked at care plan records and behavioural intervention guidance, the services safeguarding procedures and quality monitoring arrangements. We also spoke with a number of relatives visiting the home and staff throughout the inspection. We also wanted to identify staff had been trained and appropriate support arrangements were in place for them.
We saw that staff talked with people to seek their consent before undertaking aspects of care. We heard staff had conversations with people regarding their preferences and choices with music and television programmes. We spoke with a number of relatives who visited on a regular basis. They told us they were actively involved with home activities and with the care and treatment decisions where appropriate.
All staff had received specialised training to give them guidance on the prevention and management of challenging behaviour. This meant staff had received training to help them identify, understand and support people when in distress and could pose risks to themselves or others in the home.
We looked at four weeks rotas. These indicated that in general their staffing levels had remained stable. The manager told us that one weekend in particular had been difficult to staff at night time with their ideal levels. The manager was able to demonstrate to us the measures they had in place to cover the sudden shortfalls.
The provider also had a range of audits in place to monitor and assess the quality of care they provided. They told us they had oversight of any notifications or safeguarding concerns they reported to the local authority and CQC. They told us any concerns could be identified and acted upon and be discussed at the monthly Head of Department (HOD) meetings.
People were happy with the standards of care at the home, told us the rooms were nice and the food was good.
There were some suggestions as to how things could be better. This largely centred on the lack of stimulation and activities available, which people attributed to the staff being over stretched.
One person said 'I come in here to feed my wife and to relieve the pressure on the carers'