CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Heathfield Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- The inspection looked at infection prevention and control. Inspectors were assured that the home was using protective equipment safely, managing testing, supporting safe admissions and visitors, and keeping the premises clean.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, April 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control and support for safe visiting during the pandemic.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 11 March 2021. It focused on infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic, rather than the home's overall quality.
Inspectors found good practice in several areas. The home had regular Covid-19 testing, enough protective equipment, enhanced cleaning, and processes for handling deliveries and items used by people in isolation.
The home supported people to keep in touch with relatives through technology and crafts. Visitors and contractors had to take a lateral flow test, and visiting followed government guidance.
The service was inspected but not rated. Inspectors said they were assured about the infection control measures they checked. The report does not provide ratings for the other four CQC questions.
Protective equipment and testing
People and staff took part in regular whole-home Covid-19 testing. Protective equipment was readily available and staff used it appropriately.
“All people and staff participated in regular whole home testing for Covid 19.” from the report
Cleaning and hygiene
The premises were clean and free from odours. The home had enhanced cleaning and extra arrangements for crockery and cutlery used by people in isolation.
“There was an enhanced cleaning regime in place which included regular sanitisation of high touch areas.” from the report
Visiting arrangements
Visitors and contractors were tested on arrival. Visiting arrangements were adjusted during the pandemic to follow government guidance.
“All visitors and contractors were required to undertake Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests on arrival.” from the report
Contact with relatives
People were supported to stay in touch with relatives using video and voice-activated devices, cards and crafts.
“People had been supported to stay in touch with relatives using technology such as video and voice activated devises.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01Are regular Covid-19 or other infection-control tests still used for people and staff?
- 02How are visitors and contractors currently checked before entering the home?
- 03How do you keep high-touch areas, shared equipment and items used by people in isolation clean?
- 04How are people currently supported to keep in touch with relatives if visiting is restricted?
- 05What were the home's ratings for caring, effective, responsive and well-led at its most recent full inspection?
This was an unannounced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; the service was inspected but not rated and the other CQC questions were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 April 2021 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, May 2019
Heathfield Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe and personalised care, with improvements made since the previous inspection.
Inspectors made an unannounced, comprehensive visit over two days. They spoke with four people, three relatives and staff, observed care, and checked care plans, staff files and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff to keep people safe, medicines managed safely, a clean environment and staff who knew people well.
People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Their care plans reflected their needs and preferences. Activities included outings, entertainers and hobbies linked to people's interests.
The home had previously been rated Requires Improvement in April 2018. Inspectors found that the earlier concerns about consent, dignity at mealtimes and governance had been addressed, so those areas improved to Good.
Safe medicines management
Inspectors found that medicines were given as prescribed and records were complete. Staff training and checks were in place.
“There were no gaps in these records and people received their medicines as prescribed.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff were patient and reassuring, and supported people's dignity, privacy and independence.
“Staff were kind and caring with people and treated them with patience.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's health needs, communication needs, histories and interests. Activities were planned around what people enjoyed.
“Care plans included information about people's physical and mental health, personal care, continence, night care, medicines and positive behaviour support.” from the report
Good improvement systems
Audits covered areas such as accidents, food, the environment and staff competencies. Actions were recorded and put into practice.
“A system of audits monitored and measured all aspects of the home and were effective in driving improvement.” from the report
Medicines storage temperature
minorThe temperature of the room where medicines were stored had not been recorded. The manager said a thermometer would be bought and the storage area would be improved.
“The temperature of the room had not been recorded.” from the report
- 01Have the two night staff posts now been filled, and how often are agency staff used on night shifts?
- 02Has a thermometer been installed in the medicines storage room, and how are storage temperatures now checked?
- 03How will you make sure my relative's care plan stays updated as their needs, communication and interests change?
- 04How are people and relatives involved in decisions about care, activities and the running of the home?
- 05How can concerns or complaints be raised, and how will I be told what action was taken?
This was an unannounced, comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions and following up concerns from the April 2018 inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 May 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.
Every inspection of Heathfield Care Home
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- May 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2018Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- September 2013
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 3 September 2013.
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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28 live-in carers within about an hour of West Sussex
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 £1,020 to £1,170 a week. 23 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
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.