CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Hightrees
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed, including visitors, social distancing, admissions, PPE, testing, cleaning and outbreaks.
- 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, January 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control, including cleaning, PPE and outbreak planning.
Inspectors visited the home on 9 December 2020. The visit was announced and targeted infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic.
They were assured that the home was managing visitors, social distancing, admissions, PPE, testing and infection outbreaks safely. They also found that the infection control policy was up to date.
The report gives no overall rating and does not rate the Safe question. Inspectors also described activities for people, health monitoring by trained staff and enhanced cleaning arrangements.
Infection control planning
The provider had a written plan for supporting people during a COVID-19 outbreak, including people who could not self-isolate.
“The provider had developed an isolation document which detailed how to support people in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak.” from the report
Cleaning arrangements
Enhanced cleaning covered frequently touched areas at least every four hours. Separate schedules were audited by the registered manager.
“Enhanced cleaning schedules were in place which included high touch areas at least every four hours.” from the report
Health monitoring
Staff had training to check clinical observations, so they could look for signs of deterioration and seek further medical help.
“Staff had been trained to assess people's clinical observations such as blood pressure and oxygen saturation levels.” from the report
Activities at home
The home introduced activities for people who usually enjoyed going into the community, including a café-style cooked breakfast.
“New activities have been provided for people who usually enjoy accessing the community.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are the enhanced cleaning schedules, including cleaning of high-touch areas, checked now?
- 02What happens if someone living here cannot self-isolate during an infection outbreak?
- 03How do you make sure PPE, testing and visitor arrangements remain safe?
- 04How often do staff check people's blood pressure and oxygen saturation, and what happens if results change?
- 05What activities are currently offered to people who cannot access the community?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; the service was inspected but not rated overall or for the Safe question. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 January 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.
What inspectors found, May 2019
Hightrees was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care across all five areas.
This was an unannounced planned inspection on 29 March 2019. One inspector spoke with everyone living at the home, one relative, staff and the manager. Records about care, medicines, training and management were also checked.
The inspectors found that people were safe, treated with kindness and supported to make everyday choices. Staff knew people well, supported community activities and helped people stay as independent as possible. Medicines, risks, staffing, food and the home environment were managed well.
All five CQC areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This means the inspectors found good standards and that legal requirements were met. The home was also rated Good at its previous inspection, published in January 2017.
Kind, personalised support
Staff knew people well and supported them with kindness, including during a move to another service.
“People continued to be supported by an established team of staff who provided kind and personalised care” from the report
Choice and independence
People were supported to make everyday decisions, use local facilities and do as much as possible for themselves.
“People were supported to have choice and control over their day to day lives” from the report
Safe medicines and risk management
The home managed known risks and medicines safely. Records showed medicines were given on time and staff had relevant training.
“We saw that people received their prescribed medications safely and on time, with clear records maintained of the administration.” from the report
Good involvement
People helped plan their care and activities and were involved in staff recruitment interviews.
“People were involved in planning and deciding how their care and support was to be provided.” from the report
Communication plans still developing
minorThe manager planned to develop communication systems further so everyone could have equal access to information about care plans, reviews and activities.
“The registered manager advised of plans to further develop communication systems in the home in line with Accessible Information Standards” from the report
- 01How will you further develop communication systems so my relative can access their care plans, reviews and activity plans?
- 02How will my relative be involved in planning and reviewing their care and activities?
- 03How do you make sure staff understand and follow my relative's individual risk assessments?
- 04How are people supported to take part in community activities and remain as independent as possible?
- 05How would you respond if my relative or family raised a complaint or concern?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC areas and both the care provided and the home premises. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 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 Hightrees
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- May 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2017GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 8 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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Birmingham
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 £950 to £1,230 a week. 79 can care for a couple. 9 years' experience on average.
“God doesn't make people like her anymore!”
“I have never met a person who is so kind and thinks about others before himself to such an extent as Chris Malagala.”
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.