CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at 117 a & b Hitchin Road
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home was managing infection prevention and control, testing, PPE, visits, admissions and possible outbreaks safely. The provider also said it had measures to manage COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- 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, February 2022
HF Trust - 117 a & b Hitchin Road: Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong COVID-19 infection control and visiting arrangements.
Inspectors visited the home on 25 January 2022. The visit was announced one day in advance and focused on infection control, visiting arrangements and any staffing pressures linked to COVID-19.
The home had procedures to manage visits safely. Staff had enough personal protective equipment and had been trained to use it. Inspectors were assured that testing, admissions, hygiene, social distancing and outbreak arrangements were being managed safely.
People were still supported to use local facilities such as parks, shops and the cinema in line with COVID-19 guidance. The home was fully occupied, with space for up to 11 people.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the inspection did not give a new quality rating for the home.
Safe visiting
The home had a clear procedure for managing visits and supporting people to see visitors safely.
“There was a robust visiting management procedure in place to ensure people living at the service were kept safe.” from the report
Testing arrangements
The provider followed the required COVID-19 testing arrangements. A designated staff member monitored and recorded test results for staff and residents across the region.
“The provider adhered to COVID-19 testing regime in line with the government guidance.” from the report
PPE and training
Staff had enough protective equipment and had been trained to use it correctly.
“Staff had access to sufficient supplies of personal protective equipment and had been trained in using it correctly.” from the report
Maintaining community access
People continued to use local facilities while following COVID-19 guidance.
“People continued to be supported to safely access local facilities such as parks, shops and cinema, in line with COVID-19 guidance.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you currently manage visits, and have those arrangements changed since the January 2022 inspection?
- 02How are staff and residents' test results recorded and monitored now?
- 03What measures are in place if COVID-19-related staffing pressures occur?
- 04How do you make sure staff and visiting professionals meet the COVID-19 vaccination requirements or have a valid exemption?
- 05How do you support residents to continue using local facilities safely?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated and the other four areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 February 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, May 2019
HF Trust - 117 a & b Hitchin Road is rated Good; inspectors found safe, person-centred care with some records needing more detail.
The home supported 11 adults with learning disabilities and other complex needs. The inspection was unannounced and included visits, discussions with people, relatives, staff and professionals, and checks of care files, staff records, medicines, safety records, complaints and audits.
Inspectors found Good ratings for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People said they felt safe and that staff were kind. Staff supported people to make choices, build independence, access healthcare and take part in activities they enjoyed.
The home had detailed risk plans, suitable staffing, trained staff and safe medicines systems. Inspectors suggested adding more personalised detail to some care records and daily notes. The overall rating was Good, the same as at the previous inspection in 2016.
Person-centred support
Care was focused on people's choices, equality and independence. Staff supported people to develop skills and have control over their lives.
“People received very person-centred care and the service had a strong focus on promoting independence and equality.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
Staffing levels matched people's assessed needs. Staff were trained and assessed as competent to manage medicines, and people were supported to take control of their medicines where safe.
“The provider implemented safe systems for the management of medicines which included staff training and assessments of staff competency.” from the report
Choice and activities
People were supported to choose their food, activities, room decoration and daily routines. The home offered varied activities, including swimming, theatre, gardening and bowling.
“The registered manager enabled a range of activities to meet peoples known and assessed needs and preferences such as, the pub, church, swimming, night clubs, theatre, horse riding, listening books, sensory gardening, foot spas, nail painting, gardening and bowling.” from the report
Good partnership working
The home worked with health professionals and advocates to support people's health, communication and important decisions.
“The registered manager acted as a liaison with health professionals to ensure that the correct assessments took place.” from the report
Some records lacked detail
minorInspectors said some care plans and daily notes did not always contain the same level of personalised detail. This was a shortfall rather than a breach, but families may want to ask how it has been addressed.
“There were some good examples of this but it was not consistent.” from the report
Dining table presentation
minorDuring one lunch observation, the table did not have condiments, table cloths, napkins or flowers. Inspectors still found the atmosphere relaxed and unrushed.
“There were no condiments, table cloths, napkins or flowers on the table.” from the report
- 01How do you make sure care plans include each person's current preferences, routines and support needs?
- 02How will you ensure daily notes consistently record people's emotions, interactions and outcomes?
- 03How do you support people to manage or self-administer their medicines safely?
- 04What staffing levels are in place for the people living here, and how are these adjusted when needs change?
- 05How are relatives involved in care plan reviews and in checking that agreed actions have been completed?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering the premises and care provided, with all five CQC questions assessed; the previous overall rating was from 2016. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 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 117 a & b Hitchin Road
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- May 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 26 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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Central Bedfordshire
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 £1,260 a week. 83 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“We can all fully relax around Nyarai and she feels like part of our family, which is no mean feat!”
“She handled the new situation in front of her with such professionalism and I felt I could trust her 100%.”
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.