CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Hickathrift House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, appropriate risk assessments and safe medicines management. The premises were clean, equipment was checked and accidents and incidents were reviewed.
- Effective?
- Good
- Care plans covered people's health, social needs, preferences and interests. Staff received relevant training, people were supported with food and drink, and healthcare was arranged when needed.
- Caring?
- Good
- People and relatives said staff were kind and respectful. Inspectors saw staff supporting dignity, independence, choice and contact with relatives.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care was personalised and records were reviewed monthly or when needs changed. Activities were provided, end of life wishes were discussed, and complaints were responded to, although some issues had to be raised again.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found an approachable and visible manager, good teamwork and systems for checking quality. Feedback from people, relatives and staff was used to support improvement.
What inspectors found, May 2019
Hickathrift House was rated Good in all five areas, with safe, kind and personalised care and only minor issues about meal timings and repeated complaints.
The CQC made an unannounced inspection visit on 10 April 2019. Inspectors spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and visiting health professionals. They observed care, reviewed three people's care records and checked records about staffing, medicines, incidents and quality checks.
The home was rated Good overall and Good for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, clean premises and suitable equipment. Staff were described as kind and respectful, and people were supported to make choices, stay independent and keep contact with family and friends.
The report also records that lunch was served later than advertised on the inspection day, and some people felt lunch and tea were too close together. People and relatives said complaints were dealt with, but sometimes improvements did not last and the issue had to be raised again. The manager said some issues needed to be revisited before they were fully resolved.
Enough staff
Staffing was assessed against people's needs and inspectors saw enough staff to provide prompt care. Staff were also familiar to people because recruitment and retention were stable.
“We observed that there was enough staff to ensure that people received prompt care and support.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives described staff as kind. Inspectors saw staff protecting dignity, encouraging independence and offering people choices.
“Staff were respectful towards people they supported, ensuring that preferred names were used, and checking with people first before providing them with care.” from the report
Strong management and oversight
The manager was described as visible and approachable. Audits, incidents, feedback and quality checks were used to identify improvements.
“The registered manager positively encouraged feedback, reviewed the quality of the service and acted on any identified shortfalls to continuously improve the service.” from the report
Meal timings
minorLunch was later than advertised on the inspection day. Some people also felt lunch and tea were served too close together, and the manager said this would be discussed with residents.
“On the day of our inspection, we observed that the lunchtime meal was served later than the advertised time.” from the report
- 01What has changed since the inspection to make sure meals are served at the advertised times?
- 02How do you check that lunch and tea are spaced appropriately for residents?
- 03How do you make sure improvements continue after a complaint, so families do not need to raise the same issue again?
- 04How would you assess and record my relative's needs, preferences, hobbies and interests before admission?
- 05How would you involve my relative and our family in decisions if my relative could not make a particular decision?
This was an unannounced scheduled inspection that looked at all five CQC questions, and the ratings for all five areas were Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 21 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 Hickathrift House
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- May 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 15 February 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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13 live-in carers within about an hour of Norfolk
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 £990 to £1,120 a week. 9 can care for a couple. 14 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.