CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Hillcrest Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and COVID-19 safety arrangements.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 3 February 2022. It focused on infection prevention and control during COVID-19 outbreaks, and on whether staffing pressures affected care.
Inspectors found appropriate visiting checks, regular testing, suitable protective equipment and updated infection control policies. People were supported to keep in contact with relatives using technology when visits could not take place.
The home was meeting COVID-19 vaccination requirements for non-exempt staff and visiting professionals. The overall service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give a Good, Outstanding, Requires Improvement or Inadequate rating.
Infection control
Inspectors found that the home had suitable arrangements to prevent and manage infections. This included regular checks, extra cleaning and updated policies.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Protective equipment and training
The home had ample PPE and staff completed training on PPE, hand hygiene and other infection control measures.
“Staff completed online training including putting on and taking off PPE, hand hygiene and other Infection Prevention Control (IPC) and COVID-19 related training and updates.” from the report
Keeping families in contact
When visits could not happen because someone was isolating, people were helped to stay in touch with relatives through video calls.
“Where visiting couldn't take place due to isolation people were supported to use technology such as face calls to make regular contact.” from the report
Testing and vaccination
The home was meeting the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for non-exempt staff and visiting professionals, and people and staff were tested regularly.
“The service was meeting the requirement to ensure non-exempt staff and visiting professionals were vaccinated against COVID-19.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What are your current arrangements for visits, including testing and checks?
- 02How do you support residents to contact relatives when a visit cannot take place?
- 03How often are people living here and staff tested now?
- 04How do you manage staffing pressures so they do not affect residents' care?
- 05When was the home's latest full inspection, and what were its ratings for all five areas?
This was an unannounced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas were not assessed in this report. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 February 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, January 2021
Hillcrest Care Home: Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 18 December 2020. It followed information of concern about infection control and prevention. Inspectors looked only at infection control measures under the Safe question.
Inspectors were assured that the home was preventing infections, using protective equipment safely, following distancing and shielding rules, and managing admissions and testing. They also found good cleaning, safe storage of protective equipment and staff training.
The home supported residents' social and emotional wellbeing during the pandemic. It kept families updated through calls, letters and video technology. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Family communication
Staff used calls, letters and video technology to keep families updated and help residents stay connected.
“Staff supported people's social and emotional wellbeing exceptionally well.” from the report
Protective equipment
The home had suitable supplies of protective equipment, with separate areas for putting it on, removing it and disposing of it safely.
“The home had ample supplies of appropriate PPE which was stored hygienically and kept safe.” from the report
Cleaning and training
Extra cleaning was carried out and recorded. Staff received infection control training, with checks on their use of protective equipment.
“Additional cleaning of all areas and frequent touch surfaces was in place and being carried out and recorded by housekeeping staff.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you currently keeping families updated about their relative's health and the latest visiting guidance?
- 02How do you test residents and staff, and what happens if someone has symptoms or tests positive?
- 03How do you check that all staff use protective equipment safely and correctly?
- 04How often are communal areas and frequently touched surfaces cleaned and recorded?
- 05What arrangements are in place to prevent and manage an infection outbreak?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control under the Safe question only; the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 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.
Every inspection of Hillcrest Care Home
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- January 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- May 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2015
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 13 January 2011.
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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28 live-in carers within about an hour of North Yorkshire
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 £1,290 a week. 27 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Carla has been a god send with the implementation of bringing mum back home from respite care.”
“She was always 'just present enough': attentive, available, kind and engaging, but without ever over-stepping any boundary”
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.