CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Hill View Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People felt safe and inspectors found that risks, medicines, staffing checks, recruitment and the home environment were managed safely. Infection control arrangements, including the use of PPE, were also found to be suitable.
- Effective?
- Good
- People received support suited to their needs, including help with food, drink and healthcare. Staff had the training and supervision needed, although some care documentation needed updating.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect. People were involved in decisions and encouraged to remain as independent as possible, although records did not always show that care had been discussed with them.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care was personalised and plans were reviewed when needs changed. People could take part in activities and maintain relationships, but end of life care records were not always detailed enough.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found an open management culture, effective audits and good partnership working. People, relatives and staff said the management of the home had improved.
What inspectors found, May 2022
Hill View Care Home is rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, but some care records needed improvement.
Inspectors visited without warning on 9 and 10 March 2022. They spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and community health professionals. They reviewed care plans, medicines records, staff files, policies and audits.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People said they felt safe, staff were kind and there were enough staff. Inspectors found safe medicines practice, suitable training, personalised care, activities and effective management checks.
The inspection followed anonymous concerns about neglect, staff conduct and management. Inspectors found no evidence that people were at risk of harm from these concerns. They recommended improvements to end of life care records and noted some other gaps in care documentation.
People felt safe
People told inspectors they felt safe and that staffing was sufficient when they needed support.
“People told us they felt safe living at the home and there were enough staff to provide support when they needed it.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors observed staff being kind, reassuring and respectful. People were supported with privacy, dignity and independence.
“We observed staff supporting people in a kind and respectful way.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans recorded people's needs, preferences, communication needs and interests. Staff knew the people they supported.
“Staff supported people in a personalised way, which reflected their needs and preferences.” from the report
Activities and relationships
People were supported to maintain contact with relatives and friends and to take part in group and one-to-one activities.
“People told us they were happy with the activities available and were encouraged by staff to take part.” from the report
Improving management
Management checks were effective, and people, relatives and staff reported that the service had improved.
“The audits completed by management were effective in ensuring that appropriate standards of quality and safety were maintained at the home.” from the report
End of life records
needs fixingInformation about people's end of life wishes and pain relief was not always detailed enough to guide staff. Inspectors made a recommendation for the home to review its practice.
“We noted that information about people's end of life care was not always detailed enough to guide staff regarding their wishes and the use of pain relief.” from the report
Some health care records
needs fixingSome documentation needed improvement in areas including catheter care, foot care and diabetes management. The manager had started work to address this.
“Some improvements were needed to care documentation, for example in relation to catheter care, foot care and diabetes management.” from the report
Evidence of care discussions and consent
minorInspectors could not always find evidence that care had been discussed with people. The manager was also still working to obtain written consent where appropriate.
“We could not always find evidence in people's care files that their care had been discussed with them, but we noted from the home's improvement plan that this was in the process of being addressed.” from the report
- 01How have you improved records of people's end of life wishes and preferences about pain relief since this inspection?
- 02What checks now make sure catheter care, foot care and diabetes information is complete and up to date?
- 03How do you record that each person, or their relative where appropriate, has given written consent to care?
- 04Who is currently responsible for the day-to-day management of the home, and is there now a registered manager?
- 05How many permanent care staff and nurses are currently in post, and how are agency staff used while recruitment continues?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five rating areas, including infection prevention and control; the previous rating under the former provider was also Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 May 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, November 2020
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control arrangements were safe.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 10 November 2020. It was carried out because of coronavirus outbreaks and looked only at infection prevention and control.
Inspectors were assured that the home used personal protective equipment safely, followed shielding and social distancing rules, supported safe admissions and accessed testing for people and staff.
They also found enhanced cleaning, including the use of a fogging machine. Visitors had to book, complete symptom screening, wear protective equipment and keep their distance.
The home was inspected but not rated. This report does not give a full overall rating or ratings for the other areas of care.
Protective equipment
Staff wore full protective equipment throughout the inspection period described in the report.
“Staff wore full personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times to ensure people were protected as much as possible from the risk of cross infection.” from the report
Cleaning arrangements
The home had enhanced cleaning arrangements for frequently touched areas and used a fogging machine in communal areas and individual rooms.
“Enhanced cleaning was in place, with areas that were touched often being cleaned frequently.” from the report
Visitor safety
Visits were booked and visitors were screened, given protective equipment and asked to keep their distance.
“Visitors were screened for Covid 19 symptoms on arrival and were required to wear appropriate PPE and maintain social distancing during their visit.” from the report
Keeping people connected
The home supported contact with relatives and friends through video calls and more phone calls, while arranging more safe visiting opportunities.
“People were supported to maintain contact with their friends and relatives through video calls and increased phone calls.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you currently using PPE, testing and social distancing to prevent infections?
- 02How often are frequently touched areas and individual rooms cleaned?
- 03How are visitors currently screened and supported to visit safely?
- 04What safe visiting opportunities are now available for relatives?
- 05Can you show us the latest full CQC rating, as this inspection was not rated?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control practices only; the home was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 November 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 Hill View Care Home
4 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- May 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2020Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- April 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2020
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 June 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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85 live-in carers within about an hour of Lancashire
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. 78 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“She understands the needs of an elderly person in the early stages of dementia and has treated my mother with great kindness and skill.”
“Thanks to Tracy, Dad was always immaculately dressed and clean, his meals were all home cooked and nutritionally well balanced and his home was always kept really clean and tidy.”
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.