CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Hawkstone House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from avoidable harm. Inspectors found detailed risk assessments, safe medicines systems, appropriate staffing and suitable safeguarding arrangements.
- Effective?
- Good
- Care plans were detailed and person-centred, and staff had the training and knowledge needed to support people. People's nutritional, healthcare and consent needs were being met.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with kindness, compassion, dignity and respect. People were involved in decisions and supported to communicate their wishes.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care and activities were tailored to people's preferences, communication needs and interests. Inspectors found a clear complaints process and accessible information about how to complain.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home was well organised, with regular audits, meetings and feedback. Inspectors found an open and supportive culture focused on improving care.
What inspectors found, June 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with staff training and appraisal arrangements still being developed.
This was an unannounced inspection on 14 and 22 May 2019. One inspector reviewed information, spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and a social care professional, and checked care records, medicines and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found that people received personalised care from staff who understood their needs, promoted choice and independence, and supported a wide range of activities.
People and relatives said they felt safe and found staff kind and caring. Medicines, staffing, safeguarding, care planning, food, health support and complaints arrangements were found to be managed well. The building and grounds were well maintained, and quality checks were in place.
Personalised support
Care plans contained detailed information about people's needs, communication and behaviour. Staff understood this guidance and used different communication methods to support people's choices.
“We found care plans were detailed and contained person centred information.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were involved in daily life at the home and supported to make choices. Activities included work placements, swimming, walking, crafts, shopping and holidays.
“People's choice and independence were promoted.” from the report
Kind relationships
Inspectors saw warm and trusting relationships between people and staff. People and relatives spoke positively about the care and felt listened to.
“We saw staff treat people with kindness and compassion.” from the report
Safe care arrangements
Medicines, risk assessments, safeguarding, staffing and building safety were managed well. The report also says an earlier recommendation about recording covert medicines had been addressed.
“Medicines systems were organised, and people were receiving their medication when they should.” from the report
Appraisals still being introduced
minorStaff received training and regular supervision, but the annual appraisal system was still being put in place. This was a minor development point rather than a breach.
“The registered manager told us they were in the process of introducing an annual appraisal system.” from the report
- 01How will you support my relative's particular communication needs, including any use of symbols, sign language or communication technology?
- 02How do you support people to take positive risks while keeping them safe?
- 03What progress has been made with the annual staff appraisal system since this inspection?
- 04How would my relative be supported to choose activities, holidays and daily routines?
- 05How are medicines given if a person cannot consent, and how is this recorded?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions, with evidence gathered from people, relatives, staff, records and other professionals. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 June 2019 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, November 2016
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with a recommendation about medicines given covertly.
This was an unannounced inspection on 24 August 2016. The inspector spoke with people living in the home, staff, a relative and a visiting social care professional. They also observed care and checked care plans, medicines records, staffing, recruitment and quality checks.
The home supported 10 people with learning disabilities. Inspectors found enough staff, suitable safety checks and safe medicine administration. Staff understood safeguarding and people's risks, and had guidance to support people when they became distressed.
People received support with healthcare, food, communication and daily choices. Inspectors saw kind and respectful care. People were supported to go out, follow hobbies, keep in touch with family and make complaints in an accessible way.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors made a recommendation about decisions for giving covert medicines, because not all the relevant people had been involved.
Enough staff
Staffing levels were judged sufficient to provide safe, individual care. Staffing was kept under review as people's needs changed.
“People and staff told us they felt safe and there were enough staff on duty at all times to provide safe and individual care to people.” from the report
Respectful care
Staff spent time with people, explained what they were doing and supported privacy and dignity. Inspectors saw calm and patient interactions.
“Good relationships existed and staff were aware of people's needs and met these in a sensitive way that respected people's privacy and dignity.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's communication methods, preferences and routines. Staff supported people to make choices and build independence.
“People received support in the way they wanted and needed because staff had detailed guidance about how to deliver people's care.” from the report
Community involvement
People were supported to go out, try new activities, follow their interests and keep in touch with family and friends.
“All people were supported to access the community and try out new activities as well as continue with previous interests.” from the report
Quality checks
The home used regular audits, meetings and feedback to monitor care and identify improvements.
“Regular audits were completed internally to monitor service provision and to ensure the safety of people who used the service.” from the report
Covert medicines decisions
needs fixingSome people received medicines without knowing, hidden in food or drink. Inspectors found that the best-interest process had not involved all the relevant people, including family, a healthcare professional and a pharmacist.
“We recommend the service considers the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines on managing medicines in care homes with regard to the use of 'covert medicine.'” from the report
- 01Which people currently receive medicines covertly, and how is each decision reviewed?
- 02How are families, the prescribing healthcare professional, the pharmacist and any advocate involved in covert medicine decisions?
- 03What changes were made to the care planning system that was being introduced?
- 04How are people's communication methods and signs of pain or distress kept up to date?
- 05How are staffing levels adjusted when people's health or behavioural needs change?
This was an unannounced inspection of the overall service, covering Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led, with observations, interviews and checks of care and management records. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 November 2016 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Hawkstone House
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- June 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 14 January 2011.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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99 live-in carers within about an hour of Bradford
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £980 to £1,250 a week. 87 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
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Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.