CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Heathfield Residential Home
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found effective infection prevention and control arrangements. They were assured about testing, protective equipment, cleaning, visiting and the management of outbreaks.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, March 2022
Heathfield Residential Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and visiting arrangements.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 22 February 2022. It focused on infection prevention and control during COVID-19, and on whether staffing pressures affected care.
Inspectors found staff using the correct protective equipment and following infection control arrangements. The home was clean and well maintained. Staff were tested regularly, and the provider had measures to manage COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
Visiting arrangements followed government guidance. People were supported to keep in touch with relatives through arrangements such as garden and pod visits.
The service was inspected but not rated. This was not a full inspection of all five areas of care, so the report does not give an overall quality rating.
Infection control
Staff used the correct protective equipment and followed infection control arrangements. Staff had received training and regular COVID-19 updates.
“Staff were observed wearing the correct PPE and complying with infection prevention and control (IPC) arrangements.” from the report
Clean environment
The home was clean and well maintained. Regular and enhanced cleaning schedules and infection control audits were in place.
“The home was clean, hygienic and well-maintained; we were provided with regular cleaning and enhanced cleaning schedules and routine IPC audits were also being completed.” from the report
Visiting arrangements
The home had visiting arrangements that followed government guidance. People could maintain contact with relatives through arrangements including garden and pod visits.
“People were supported to maintain contact with their loves ones and the appropriate IPC measures and arrangements were in place to keep people safe.” from the report
Staffing measures
The provider had measures to reduce the risks linked to COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
“Effective measures were in place to mitigate the risks associated with COVID-19 related staff pressures.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are staff currently trained and updated on infection prevention and control?
- 02How often are staff and residents tested for infections, and what happens when a positive result is found?
- 03How does the home manage staffing pressures, and could these affect people’s care?
- 04What visiting arrangements are available now, and what infection control measures apply to visitors?
- 05How does the home keep cleaning schedules and infection prevention audits up to date?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated and the report does not assess all five questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 March 2022 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, March 2019
Outstanding overall; inspectors found exceptionally caring, responsive and well-led care, with safe and effective systems rated Good.
This was an unannounced, comprehensive inspection on 21 and 23 January 2019. Inspectors spoke with people living in the home, relatives and staff. They also reviewed care records, staffing, medicines, training, safety records, activities and quality checks.
People told inspectors they felt safe and were treated with exceptional kindness. Staff knew people's histories and preferences well. There were enough staff, medicines were managed safely, and the home was clean. Food was fresh, varied and enjoyed by the people living there.
The home offered highly personalised activities, trips out and support for people's independence, faith and communication needs. Inspectors also found strong leadership, staff involvement and ongoing efforts to improve care through research and new technology.
The overall rating was Outstanding. Caring, Responsive and Well-led were rated Outstanding. Safe and Effective were rated Good. The previous inspection, published in September 2016, also rated the service Outstanding.
Personalised support
Staff knew people's life histories, routines and preferences in detail. This helped them have meaningful conversations and provide care suited to each person.
“There was a strong, visible, person-centred culture.” from the report
Choice and activities
People could choose activities, trips and ways to spend their time. The home supported hobbies, social events and outings based on individual wishes.
“The service used innovative ways to involve people and their relatives in all aspects of their care.” from the report
Good safety systems
Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, safe medicines management and effective action after accidents. The home used technology to reduce identified risks.
“People were safe and protected from avoidable harm. Legal requirements were met.” from the report
Strong leadership and improvement
Managers were described as open and supportive. Staff were given lead roles and the home used feedback, research and audits to improve its care.
“Service leadership continued to be exceptional and distinctive.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you maintain staffing levels when there is short-notice absence, and who covers shifts?
- 02How would you assess and support my relative if they wanted to manage some or all of their own medicines?
- 03How would you record and follow my relative's routines, life history, communication needs and personal interests?
- 04What activities and trips could you offer based on my relative's own wishes and abilities?
- 05How would you involve us in recording future care wishes, including end-of-life preferences, if my relative wanted this?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions, with the previous overall rating also recorded as Outstanding. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 March 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 Residential Home
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Outstanding rating throughout.
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- March 2019Outstandingstayed OutstandingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- September 2016OutstandingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 9 December 2010.
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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