CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Highcroft Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines management, suitable risk assessments, clean premises and appropriate fire safety arrangements.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had relevant training and supported people with nutrition, healthcare and daily choices. Care assessments included people's needs and preferences.
- Caring?
- Good
- Inspectors saw staff supporting people in a polite, friendly, calm and patient way. People were involved in decisions and their privacy, dignity and independence were respected.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were personalised and reviewed monthly. People were offered choices and supported with activities, communication and end of life care that reflected their wishes.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had an open management culture and systems to monitor quality, safety and risks. Staff, relatives and healthcare professionals were involved and their feedback was positive.
What inspectors found, July 2022
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with only a minor concern about stairs for people with limited mobility.
This was an unannounced inspection after a new provider took over the home. Inspectors spoke with three people, eight relatives and six staff. They also reviewed care records, risk assessments, staff files and the home itself.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe medicines systems, clean premises and suitable infection control arrangements. People were supported with food, healthcare, communication and activities that matched their needs and preferences.
The home had good systems for checking quality, managing risks and learning from accidents or incidents. The report also included a separate check of oral health support and access to dentists. No regulations were breached and no enforcement action was reported.
Enough staff
Inspectors found enough staff on duty and saw that people received support without being rushed or left waiting.
“Service rota records showed there was enough staff on duty to meet people's needs. We observed people were not waiting for support and staff were not rushed when supporting people.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff were observed treating people warmly and patiently. The home also supported privacy and independence.
“On the day of the inspection we observed staff being polite, friendly, calm and patient when supporting people.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's histories, preferences, communication needs and daily routines. Staff knew people well and offered meaningful choices and activities.
“Care records contained detailed and personalised information including likes and dislikes.” from the report
Good oversight
The manager and an external agency carried out regular audits covering care plans, health and safety and the environment. The report says improvements were identified and acted on.
“Regular audits were carried out by the registered manager and an external agency.” from the report
Stairs may affect suitability
minorSome bedrooms were on a split level reached by stairs. This was not a problem for current residents, but it could be unsuitable for someone with limited mobility.
“Whilst the stairs did not pose a problem for current residents they could pose a concern if someone had limited mobility.” from the report
- 01If my relative has limited mobility, which bedroom and access arrangements would be available to them?
- 02How would you keep checking that staffing levels remain enough as residents' needs change?
- 03How would you support my relative's particular communication needs, including hearing, sight or difficulty speaking?
- 04How would you involve our family in care reviews, activities and decisions about healthcare?
- 05How would you support my relative's oral care and access to routine or emergency dental treatment?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five key questions, including infection prevention and control, and it also included a separate thematic probe about oral health; the previous rating was Good under the previous provider. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 July 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 2021
Highcroft Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 2 March 2021. It focused on how the home was prepared to prevent and control COVID-19 infection.
Inspectors found the premises clean and well maintained. Visitors had separate access, temperature checks, hand sanitiser and PPE. The home was testing people and staff, training staff in infection control, and assigning staff to one location to reduce cross-infection risks.
Inspectors were assured about the home's infection prevention and control arrangements. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give a full rating for the quality of care.
Clean environment
The premises were clean and well maintained. The home provided hand sanitiser and PPE before visitors entered.
“The premises were clean and well maintained. Hand sanitiser and personal protective equipment (PPE) were available at the outside entrance before visitors entered the home.” from the report
Testing arrangements
The home had arrangements to test people and staff for COVID-19 in line with national guidance.
“The provider had appropriate arrangements to test people and staff for COVID-19 and was following government guidance on testing.” from the report
Staff infection control
Staff received regular infection control and PPE training. They were assigned to one location to help reduce the risk of cross-infection.
“All staff had received regular training on infection control and the use of PPE. Staff were assigned to work at one location to help minimise the risk of cross infection.” from the report
Family contact
The home supported people to keep in touch with relatives and friends through phone and video messaging. It also provided a separate conservatory entrance for safer visits.
“Family members and friends could stay in touch with people with phone and video messaging.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are people and staff tested for COVID-19 now, and how are the results recorded?
- 02How often do staff receive infection control and PPE training?
- 03How does the home manage visits and help residents stay in contact with family members?
- 04Are staff still assigned to one location to reduce the risk of cross-infection?
- 05What arrangements are in place to prevent or manage an infection outbreak?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control measures during the coronavirus pandemic; the service was inspected but not rated overall. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 March 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.
Every inspection of Highcroft Care Home
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- July 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2020
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 21 December 2020.
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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