Highcroft Care Home

Updated 15 July 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 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.

The inspection team

The inspection was carried out by three 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

Highcroft Care Home 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. Highcroft Care Home is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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. 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

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. 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 improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people who used the service and eight relatives about their experiences of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff including the registered manager, the deputy manager, two care assistants, the cook and the activity co-ordinator. We also spoke to the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

We looked at a range of records including six peoples care records and their risk assessments. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and supervision.

We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

Updated 15 July 2022

About the service

Highcroft Care Home is a residential care home providing personal care to older people living with dementia. The service can support up to 23 people in one building across two floors. At the time of our inspection there were 22 people using the service.

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

We saw positive engagements between staff and people. People and their relatives told us staff looked after them well.

Medicines were overall managed well. Staff had training in the administration of medicines, there were policies and procedures in place. The Medicine Administration Records (MARs) we looked at had no unexplained gaps.

People were protected from abuse by staff who understood how to identify and report any concerns. Risk to people’s health and wellbeing had been assessed. Risk assessments in place gave staff guidance on how to minimise risks to people.

Recruitment checks had been carried out. There was enough staff on duty to meet people’s needs.

The premises were clean and tidy. Steps had been taken to protect people from the risk of infection. Appropriate fire safety arrangements were in place. Records showed maintenance had been carried out within the home.

Staff received appropriate training and they had the knowledge, skills and experience to support people. Staff had regular one to one meetings with their line managers. Staff said they enjoyed working at the home and the manager was very supportive and approachable.

Staff supported people to have a healthy and nutritious diet which was in line with their care plans and preferences.

There was a complaints procedure in place, we noted the service had not received any formal complaints within the last six months.

The home was managed effectively. Management monitored the quality and safety of the service to ensure it remained safe for people. Quality assurance systems were in place to enable management to monitor and improve the quality of the care being delivered.

Staff understood their responsibilities regarding the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). 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.

During this inspection we carried out a separate thematic probe, which asked questions of the provider, people and their relatives, about the quality of oral health care support and access to dentists, for people living in the care home. This was to follow up on the findings and recommendations from our national report on oral healthcare in care homes that was published in 2019 called ‘Smiling Matters’. We will publish a follow up report to the 2019 ‘Smiling Matters’ report, with up to date findings and recommendations about oral health, in due course.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for the service under the previous provider was good (published 21 April 2020).

Why we inspected

This inspection was carried out as there is a new provider at this location.

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, which will help inform when we next inspect.