CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Hill Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, April 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection control and visiting arrangements, but this was not a full care-quality inspection.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 21 February 2022. The CQC looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and whether COVID-19-related staffing pressures affected the home.
Inspectors were assured that visitors were screened, suitable protective equipment was provided, testing was available and infection outbreaks could be prevented or managed. They were also assured that the infection control policy was up to date.
The report gives no quality rating. It says the home was inspected but not rated, so this report does not provide an overall judgement on the quality of care.
Infection control
The home had measures for screening visitors, using protective equipment, testing people and staff, and preventing or managing outbreaks.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Handwashing support
People were helped to understand the importance of handwashing through visual demonstrations and regular prompts.
“The provider had supported people to understand the importance of handwashing using visual aids.” from the report
Community links
The home had strengthened links with local neighbours, police and healthcare professionals during the pandemic.
“The provider had strengthened their links with their local community and local healthcare professionals.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection control and visiting arrangements are in place now?
- 02How do you currently screen visitors and provide personal protective equipment when needed?
- 03How are staffing pressures managed now, and have they affected people's care?
- 04How do you currently support people to understand and practise good handwashing?
- 05How are the links with local healthcare professionals and the local community being maintained?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated overall. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 April 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, August 2018
Rated Good; a focused inspection found safe care and good management after concerns about people's continuing safety.
Inspectors visited the home without notice on 5 July 2018. They reviewed care records, medicines records, staffing and recruitment records, audits and policies. They spoke with managers, staff and a visiting healthcare professional, and observed care in shared areas.
The inspection followed information about incidents that raised concerns about people's continuing safety. Inspectors found effective risk assessments, suitable staffing, safe medicines processes and arrangements to prevent infection. The provider had investigated concerns and added further checks where needed.
The home had a positive culture that promoted choice, independence and inclusion. Families were involved in care planning where people could not take part directly. Inspectors rated the service Good overall, with Safe and Well-led also rated Good.
Risk management
Risk assessments were detailed and updated when people's needs or behaviours changed. Staff were guided to avoid unnecessary physical interventions and use minimal restraint.
“The provider continued to have in place detailed and thorough risk assessments which were updated following changes in people's needs” from the report
Staffing
Inspectors found enough suitable staff to support people safely. Rotas reflected people's individual support needs, including when dedicated or two-person support was required.
“There were sufficient suitable staff deployed to support people safely.” from the report
Positive culture
The home promoted choice, independence and inclusion. People were supported to access the community, and families or advocates were involved when appropriate.
“There continued to be a positive, empowering culture at the home.” from the report
Quality checks
The provider had increased monitoring since the previous inspection. This included weekly internal audits, daily checks and monthly quality visits.
“Additional quality monitoring had been put in place since our last inspection.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What has happened since the incidents that led to this focused inspection, and what safeguards are now in place?
- 02How many permanent and agency staff are currently working at the home, and has agency use reduced?
- 03How are individual risk assessments kept up to date when someone's needs or behaviour changes?
- 04How do you check that medicines guidance remains correct when a person's needs change or they decline medicines?
- 05What have the weekly audits, daily checks and monthly quality visits found recently?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other areas and their ratings were not reassessed during this visit. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 August 2018 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 Lodge
3 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- August 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 November 2014.
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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26 live-in carers within about an hour of Hampshire
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 £1,020 to £1,260 a week. 23 can care for a couple. 14 years' experience on average.
“I cannot recommend Prisca highly enough, she is one in a million.”
“He stayed with her throughout the pandemic, refusing to visit his own family, who lived nearby, to reduce the risk of infection.”
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.