CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Highfield Residential Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People told inspectors they felt safe and had support when needed. Staffing, recruitment, risk assessments, medicines and infection control were found to be well managed.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed before they moved in. Staff were trained and supported, and people received help with food, health care and decisions about their care.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff knew people well and were kind, patient and respectful. Inspectors saw people being supported with dignity while also being encouraged to remain independent.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's individual needs, preferences and life histories. People were offered activities, support with communication and a clear complaints process.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found an open and inclusive culture. Management checks and audits were described as robust, and staff worked together as a cohesive team.
What inspectors found, March 2020
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with effective management and activities.
This was an unannounced planned inspection on 14 February 2020. The inspector spoke with six people living in the home and eight staff. They reviewed care records, medicines records, staff recruitment files and management records.
Inspectors found that people felt safe and happy. There were enough staff, medicines were managed safely, and risks were assessed. People received support with health care, food, communication and daily choices.
Staff were described as kind, patient and caring. People were supported to stay independent, keep relationships and take part in activities. The home had an open culture, regular checks and good links with health care professionals.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was the first inspection since the service registered under its current legal entity. The previous rating was also Good and was published in 2017.
People felt safe
People told inspectors they felt safe and received support when they needed it. Staffing levels were reviewed and adjusted when people's needs changed.
“People told us they felt safe and happy living at the service. They told us they had support from staff when they needed it.” from the report
Safe medicines management
Staff were trained to give medicines and their competence was checked regularly. Medicines were stored, managed and recorded safely.
“Medicines were ordered, stored, managed and disposed of safely.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Staff knew people well, were not rushed and supported privacy, dignity and independence.
“Throughout the inspection staff were not rushed and spent time with people, making sure they had everything they needed.” from the report
Personalised activities
People were offered group and one-to-one activities linked to their interests. The home also had links with schools, churches and the local community.
“There were plenty of organised events, such as visiting singers, nail technicians and hairdressers.” from the report
Strong management checks
The management team welcomed feedback and used regular checks and audits to monitor quality and safety.
“Regular checks and audits on the quality and safety of service delivered were robust.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you assess and review my relative's risks, care needs and preferences before they move in?
- 02How do you check that staffing levels remain sufficient when people's needs change or staff are absent?
- 03How will you support my relative's medicines safely, including any prescribed creams or medicines given only when needed?
- 04Which activities and community links would suit my relative's interests and communication needs?
- 05How will you involve my relative and our family in reviewing the care plan and making decisions?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC areas; the report says it was the first inspection since the service registered under its current legal entity, with the previous Good rating published in 2017. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 March 2020 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 Highfield Residential Home
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2020Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2017GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2019
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 9 April 2019.
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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39 live-in carers within about an hour of Kent
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. 33 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Always on time and with a lovely smile for my mum. Theresa is kind and sensitive to my mum's needs.”
“Irene was a very kind and empathetic carer who knew just the right words to say to put a smile on my face.”
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.