Background to this inspection
Updated
3 April 2020
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 Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by one inspector
Service and service type
Hilltop is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We met with two people who used the service and six members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, a senior care worker and three care workers. Not everyone living at Hilltop was able to tell us about their experiences and we observed people with staff. People’s verbal communication was restricted, therefore we observed interactions between people and staff.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records, medicine records, two
staff files which included recruitment, supervision and training details; and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including audits and checks.
After the inspection
After the inspection we received feedback from two professionals and three people who knew the service well. We spoke with three family members. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.
Updated
3 April 2020
About the service
Hilltop is a residential care home providing personal care for up to seven people with autism. At the time of the inspection there were six people being supported. The service provides care in one domestic style property
The service had been developed prior to publication of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. Staff values were in line with the underlying principles of the guidance. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The service encouraged people to live as full a life as possible and supported them to achieve the best possible outcomes. People's confidence, independence and wellbeing had improved since they began using the service.
Dedicated and enthusiastic staff ensured that people's daily life was filled with meaningful opportunities, entertainment and involvement in making friends and reducing social isolation.
People were protected from the risk of abuse. Risks to people had been assessed and were managed safely.
There were enough staff to safely meet people's needs. Staff knew to report any incidents or accidents and the registered manager reviewed incident records to look for trends and reduce the risk of repeat occurrence.
Staff received good training and support to carry out their roles effectively. Staff were positive about working in the service. Staff worked with other professionals to ensure people's healthcare needs were met.
People and their relatives (where appropriate) had been consulted about their care and support needs. The service had a complaints procedure in place.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People were supported to maintain a balanced diet and told us they enjoyed the choice of meals and snacks.
Staff treated people with dignity and respected their privacy. People were involved in making decisions about the support they received. Staff were caring and compassionate in their approach.
The home was well led. Systems and checks were in place to ensure that the home was operating well.
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.
This was the first inspection since a change in registration on 05/03/2019. The last rating for this service was Good (published on 3 January 2018)
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the 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.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk