Archived: Hallgarth Care Home

We found the following examples of good practice.

People were fully supported to have visits from family and friends. Safe visiting measures had been put in place during a recent outbreak to ensure people’s social needs were met. This included planning of routes in the building and using different available entrances to ensure the shortest route was taken.

The service was clean, tidy and organised. Some areas of the service required renovation or decorative work. This work had started, and the provider had started to develop a plan of refurbishment work.

PPE was available, worn, and stored safely. The provider was in the process of developing multiple infection control champions to develop their practices further.

Hallgarth is a residential care home that was providing personal care to 42 older people and people living with dementia at the time of the inspection. The service accommodates up to 45 people.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found:

People received a very caring and responsive service, from staff who were trained and supported in their roles. Staff were aware of risks to people’s safety and wellbeing and acted to minimise these risks. The home was clean and good infection prevention and control measures were followed. People received their medicines in line with their prescription, but we have made a recommendation about ensuring best practice in medicines management is consistently followed.

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.

People were complimentary about the food and there was good information for staff about people’s nutrition and hydration needs. People had access to healthcare professionals and specialists where needed, and staff followed the advice of health professionals. The environment was suitable for people’s needs and the décor reflected people’s preferences.

Care plans provided staff with appropriate information about people’s needs and preferences, which enabled staff to provide person-centred care. Staff were very attentive and caring, and people’s privacy and dignity was respected. There was a welcoming, positive atmosphere in the home and people took part in activities of their choosing. People were supported to maintain relationships with friends and family members.

Systems were in place to check the quality and safety of the service and the provider demonstrated commitment to continual improvement. We received positive feedback from people, relatives and staff about the management of the service. People were very satisfied with the service and felt confident any concerns they raised would be dealt with.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection:

At the last inspection the service was rated Good overall (published 11 July 2017).

Why we inspected:

This was a scheduled inspection based on the service’s previous rating.

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.

At the last inspection on 11 November 2014, the service was rated ‘Good’. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

People had received their medicines as prescribed and staff had been trained in the safe management of medicines. However, we found areas that required improvement in the medication administration records and audit systems. The registered manager and the registered provider took immediate action to make the required improvement soon after the inspection. Medicines were stored securely to ensure they were safe. There were risk assessments which identified risks to people and management plans had been put in place to ensure people’s health and well-being were maintained.

The registered manager understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). People’s consent to various aspects of their care was considered and where required DoLS authorisations had been sought from the local authority. However, improvements were required to the documentation relating to mental capacity assessments. The registered manager took action immediately after the inspection and made the required improvements to the documentation.

The registered manager had systems in place to record safeguarding concerns, accidents and incidents and take appropriate action when required. Recruitment checks were carried out to ensure suitable people were employed to work at the home. Our observations and discussions with staff and people who lived at the home confirmed sufficient staff were on duty. Risk assessments had been developed to minimise the potential risk of harm to people who lived at the home. These had been kept under review and were relevant to the care and support people required. Actions had been taken to minimise the risk of people attempting to leave the building unsafely through windows. We noted the systems for protecting people from scalding from hot water needed improving. The registered manager took immediate action to correct this.

Care plans were in place detailing how people wished to be supported. People who received support, or where appropriate their relatives, were involved in decisions and consented to their care. People’s independence was promoted.

We observed regular snacks and drinks were provided between meals to ensure people received adequate nutrition and hydration. Comments from people who lived at the home were all positive about the quality of meals provided. One person said, “The food here is the best.” We found people had access to healthcare professionals and their healthcare needs were met.

People who lived at the home told us they were encouraged to participate in activities of their choice and a range of activities that had been organised. We observed the activities coordinator engaging people and offering a range of activities. People who used the service and their relatives knew how to raise a concern or to make a complaint. The complaints procedure was available and people said they were encouraged to raise concerns.

The registered manager used a variety of methods to assess and monitor the quality of care at Hallgarth Care Home. These included, regular internal audits of the service, surveys and staff and resident meetings to seek the views of people about the quality of care being provided.

We found the provider had made improvements with regard to cleanliness and infection control. One regular visitor to the home told us 'It is tip top and always smells beautiful'.

We found people were being looked after by friendly, supportive staff within a warm and homely environment. Care was risk assessed and records were up to date. Relatives told us that communication between the staff and people was 'Excellent' and 'The staff let you know if anything happens such as a fall'.

People told us 'We get our medicine on time and when we need it' and we found that appropriate arrangements were in place in relation to recording, handling and safely administering medicines to people who used the service.

We had a few minor concerns about infection control practices, which were discussed with the registered manager for the service and recorded in this report.

Staff received training to ensure that their skills and knowledge remained up to date and the manager regularly supervised their work practice.

The provider had a quality assurance system in place and people's views and opinions of the service were listened to and acted on where necessary.