Hill House Nursing Home

Updated 10 March 2022

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 included checking the provider was meeting COVID-19 vaccination requirements. 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

This inspection was carried out by two inspectors and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Hill House Nursing Home 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.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced. The inspection activity started on 31 January 2022 and ended on 2 February 2022. Two inspectors visited the service on 31 January 2022. On 1 and 2 February 2022, telephone calls were made to a number of relatives and staff. We also reviewed a number of records off site during this time, which the registered manager sent to us electronically; relating to the operation and management of the service.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well and any improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

During the course of the inspection, we spoke with seven people living at the service and made general observations of staff interactions with people. We spoke with 16 relatives, two external health professionals and a total of nine staff. This included a nurse, a senior care staff member, three care staff, a cook, the maintenance person, the registered manager and an external senior manager for the provider.

We reviewed a range of records relating to people’s care and the management of the service. Examples included, six people’s care records, multiple medicines records, staffing records, care policies, management audits, care quality and staff survey results.

Updated 10 March 2022

About the service

Hill House Nursing Home is a residential care home providing accommodation for up to 29 adults who require personal or nursing care. This may include people living with dementia. Individual bedroom accommodation is provided over two floors in one adapted building, with a range of accessible communal living facilities and outdoor spaces including a garden with seating and car parking. At the time of this inspection there were 19 people using the service, including nine people receiving nursing care.

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

People were protected from the risk of harm or abuse within the service. The provider operated effective staffing, safeguarding, risk assessment and management strategies, to inform and ensure people’s safety needs and related care requirements.

People’s medicines were safely managed and given. Staff understood people’s risk assessed care needs and how to support them safely. People’s related care plans were accurately recorded for staff to follow, to help ensure this.

The environment and equipment used for people’s care, was suitable, visibly clean and regularly checked to ensure timely repair or renewal when needed.

We were assured the provider was meeting with requirements and nationally recognised government guidance, concerned with the prevention and control of infection, including COVID-19.

People were supported to maintain or improve their health and nutrition. Staff were trained and supported to deliver individualised care, in accordance with people’s assessed needs, choices, best interests and the law.

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 received care from staff who knew them well and how to communicate effectively with them. Arrangements for people’s care, including at the end of their life, helped to ensure people’s dignity, comfort, choice and independence.

The provider was meeting the accessible information standard, to help people understand what to expect from their care. There were effective arrangements for handling and responding to any complaints or concerns received.

The service was well managed and led. There was a registered manager for the service. Both they and staff understood their role and responsibilities for people’s care. People, relatives and staff were confident in the management and running of the service.

The provider operated effective governance systems to ensure the quality and safety of people’s care and continuous service improvement.

People, relatives and staff were regularly engaged and consulted, to help inform people’s care, service planning and improvement. The provider’s arrangements for partnership working with relevant external professionals and ongoing consultation with people, relatives and staff, helped to effectively inform and enhance people’s care experience.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection This service was registered with us in September 2020 and this is the first inspection. The last rating for the service under the previous provider was Good, published July 2018.

Why we inspected

This was a planned first ratings inspection of the service for this registered provider.

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. This included checking the provider was meeting COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

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 received any concerning information, we may inspect sooner.