CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Hillcroft Nursing Home Lancaster
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control, including PPE, testing, visiting, admissions, cleaning and the management of outbreaks. The provider also had measures to manage COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not covered by this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not covered by this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not covered by this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This area was not covered by this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control, safe visiting arrangements and measures to manage COVID-19 staffing pressures.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 28 January 2022. The CQC gave the home one day’s notice. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and whether COVID-19 staffing pressures affected care.
Inspectors were assured that the home was using protective equipment safely, carrying out testing, managing visitors and admissions safely, and keeping its infection control policy up to date. The home was clean and had extra cleaning arrangements for frequently touched surfaces.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the visit did not provide an overall quality rating or a full assessment of all five areas of care.
Infection control training
Staff had received training to keep their infection prevention and control knowledge up to date.
“Staff had received training to help ensure their knowledge on infection prevention and control was up to date.” from the report
PPE and cleaning
Inspectors found enough protective equipment and hand gel. The home was clean, with schedules and extra cleaning for high-touch areas.
“The home was clean and hygienic. Cleaning schedules were in place with additional cleaning protocols” from the report
Keeping people in touch
The home supported contact with important people through planned face-to-face visits, window visits, video calls and telephone calls.
“People were supported to maintain contact with those who were important to them, in line with current government guidance.” from the report
Testing and vaccination
People and staff were tested regularly. The report says the home met the vaccination requirement for non-exempt staff and visiting professionals.
“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 the current rules for face-to-face visits, and do visits still need to be planned in advance?
- 02How do you make sure there is enough PPE and cleaning equipment available?
- 03How often are residents and staff tested when there is a suspected or confirmed infection?
- 04How would staffing pressures affect the care and support my relative receives?
- 05How do you keep in contact with local health professionals if a resident needs medical advice?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19 staffing pressures; it was not a full inspection of all five key questions and the service was not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 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, November 2019
Hillcroft Nursing Home Lancaster was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some records needing improvement.
This was an unannounced inspection on 16 October 2019. Two inspectors spoke with one person, three relatives and 10 members of staff. They observed care, checked five people's care records and medication records, reviewed management records, and looked around the building.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found people were protected from abuse, received their medicines safely, and were supported by trained staff. People and relatives spoke positively about the care, and staff were described as kind and respectful.
There were two areas for improvement. One care plan contained conflicting information about a person's dietary support, which could have created a choking risk. Records did not always show all the support delivered, so the manager did not have a complete overview. The dietary care plan was corrected during the inspection.
Medicines and safety
People received medicines as prescribed. Inspectors found the medicines system well organised and saw that risks such as falls and emergencies were assessed.
“People received their medicines when they should. Medicines administration systems were robust and well organised.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff understood people's backgrounds and preferences. Inspectors saw people treated with dignity, privacy and consideration.
“We found staff were kind, caring and considerate of people's individual needs and preferences.” from the report
Personalised activities
Staff knew people's interests and supported them to take part in activities, including activities in the local community.
“People were encouraged and supported to take part in activities to socialise and build on their living skills and independence.” from the report
Staff training and support
Staff received ongoing training and supervision relevant to their roles. Nurses were supported with revalidation and some staff could become advanced practitioners.
“They received ongoing training that was relevant to their roles that met the Care Certificate standards.” from the report
Approachable management
The manager was present in the home and relatives and staff said the management team was approachable and supportive.
“The registered manager maintained a presence within the home and had an open-door policy for people, staff and relatives.” from the report
Conflicting dietary information
seriousOne person's care plan contained contradictory information about their nutritional support. Inspectors said this could have placed the person at risk of choking, although the plan was amended during the inspection.
“one person had contradictory information in their care plan related to their nutritional support requirements, which could have placed them at risk of choking.” from the report
Incomplete activity records
needs fixingRecords did not always show all the support delivered. Inspectors recommended using clearer and more measurable records so the manager could properly oversee the service.
“not all activity was clearly documented to reflect what support was delivered, which meant the registered manager did not have oversight.” from the report
- 01How do you check that each person's dietary and choking-risk information is consistent across their care plan and staff guidance?
- 02What changes have you made to record all support delivered and give managers a clear overview?
- 03How do you check that the improvements recommended at this inspection have been maintained?
- 04What activities are available for someone with my relative's interests, communication needs and level of independence?
- 05How are relatives involved when care plans are reviewed or a person's needs change?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering the premises and care provided, with all five CQC questions rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 November 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 Hillcroft Nursing Home Lancaster
4 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Hillcroft Nursing Home Lancaster →
- November 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Hillcroft Nursing Home Lancaster →
- June 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: Good
- June 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 11 May 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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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.