CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Hill House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, suitable safeguarding training and safe medicines support. Guidance for as-required pain relief was clarified during the inspection.
- Effective?
- Good
- People had personalised care plans, trained staff and access to health professionals. The home worked within the Mental Capacity Act, although documentation about an audio monitoring device needed clarification and was amended.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff understood people's preferences, respected privacy and dignity, and supported people to make choices and develop independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care was personalised and communication needs were understood. People were supported to keep relationships, use local amenities and take part in activities they chose.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The manager was described as supportive and person-centred, with systems to gather feedback and improve care. Two care records were out of date, and plans were made for more frequent audits.
What inspectors found, April 2023
Hill House rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with some records and guidance updated during the visit.
This was the first inspection since the home registered in December 2021. Inspectors visited on 7 March 2023, spoke with one person and three staff, and reviewed care, medicines, recruitment, training and management records.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, suitable training, personalised care, support with health needs, meaningful activities and good involvement of people and families.
The inspection followed concerns about care, staffing and management. Inspectors found no evidence that people were at risk of harm from those concerns. They did identify some records and guidance that needed clarification or updating, and the manager took immediate action on these points.
Person-centred support
Staff knew people's preferences and supported them to make everyday choices. Care was focused on each person's goals, independence and wellbeing.
“Staff understood the principles of person-centred care and placed people as the focus of what they did every day.” from the report
Safe staffing
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs and provide opportunities for new experiences. Recruitment checks and staff induction supported safe care.
“There were sufficient staff deployed to meet people's needs, including opportunities for new experiences.” from the report
Health support
The home worked with health professionals when people's needs changed. Health records identified the professionals involved in people's care.
“Referrals were made to professionals in response to changes in people's needs or to manage their health conditions.” from the report
Choice and activities
People chose meals, activities and how to use their private space. They were supported to visit local shops, cafes and leisure facilities and to maintain relationships.
“People were involved in choosing the activities they did daily.” from the report
Family involvement
People, families and representatives were involved in care planning and reviews where appropriate. The manager kept regular contact with families.
“The registered manager developed and maintained regular contact with people's families.” from the report
Care records needed updating
needs fixingTwo care records were out of date when inspectors checked them. The manager updated them and planned more frequent audits.
“Two care records were identified as being out of date during the inspection.” from the report
Medicine guidance needed clarification
minorGuidance about whether to give one or two pain relief tablets was not clear. The manager updated it during the inspection.
“They updated the guidance to provide clarity for when one or two pain relief tablets should be administered.” from the report
Monitoring device records needed clarification
minorThe report says there was not enough clarity about an audio monitoring device. The manager checked the authorisation and amended the documentation during the inspection.
“A lack of clarity regarding the use of an audio monitoring device was discussed.” from the report
End of life pathway not yet in place
minorNo one needed end of life care during the inspection. The provider planned to introduce a pathway for future support.
“The provider planned to implement an end of life care pathway to support people and their families through this sensitive time when required.” from the report
- 01How often are care records audited now, and how do you make sure they remain up to date?
- 02What is the current written guidance for one or two as-required pain relief tablets?
- 03What authorisation and safeguards are in place for the audio monitoring device?
- 04Has the planned end of life care pathway now been introduced?
- 05How will my relative and our family be involved in reviews, activities and decisions about care?
This was the first inspection of the newly registered home and covered all five CQC key questions, each of which was rated Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 20 April 2023 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 Hill House
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- April 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2021
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 7 December 2021.
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
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What to check when you visit
62 live-in carers within about an hour of Derbyshire
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 £1,010 to £1,260 a week. 51 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Ernest is an amazing professional carer who delivers care from the heart.”
“We particularly appreciate the companionship Dawn gives in the evenings when she plays cards and Scrabble with my mother.”
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.