CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Hilldales Residential Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, September 2022
Hilldales Residential Care Home was rated Requires Improvement because infection control and management checks were not always reliable, although care was kind and responsive.
This was the first inspection of the newly registered service. One inspector visited on 16 and 19 August 2022. The first visit was unannounced and the second was announced. The inspector spoke with nine people, eight staff and three health and social care professionals, and checked care records, staff files, training and quality checks.
The main safety concerns were about infection control. On the first day, some staff were not wearing masks or were not wearing them correctly. On both days, visitors were not asked for lateral flow test evidence or screening information. The inspectors said people were therefore not fully protected from infection risks. This was a breach of Regulation 12.
The inspectors found kind and respectful care, personalised care plans, safe medicines management and enough staff to meet people's needs. Staff supported people with their physical and mental health, including access to health professionals. However, quality checks had not found the infection control problems, so well-led was also rated Requires Improvement.
The overall rating was Requires Improvement. Effective, caring and responsive were rated Good. CQC asked for an action plan and said it would monitor progress.
Kind and respectful care
People received compassionate care. Staff understood people's needs, communication styles and preferences, and supported their dignity and independence.
“People received kind and compassionate care from staff who used positive, respectful language people understood and responded well to.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's health needs, preferences and communication methods. Staff used these plans to provide consistent support.
“Care plans were detailed and included personal preferences, such as how people wanted their personal care delivered.” from the report
Safe medicines management
Medicines were checked, administered safely and monitored through audits. Staff had medicine training and said they felt confident.
“Medicines administration records were appropriately signed by staff when administering a person's medicines.” from the report
Masks were not always used correctly
seriousSome staff did not wear masks, or did not wear them in line with best practice. Some staff continued this after the manager spoke to them.
“On the first day of our inspection, staff were either not wearing masks or were not wearing them in line with best practice.” from the report
Visitor screening was not reliable
seriousVisitors were not asked for evidence of a negative lateral flow test or to complete screening documents on either inspection day.
“On both days of inspection, we were not asked for evidence of a negative lateral flow test (LFT) or asked to complete any screening documentation before entering the home.” from the report
Quality checks missed infection control problems
needs fixingThe home's existing checks had not identified the problems with masks and visitor screening. The provider sent an action plan after the inspection.
“Despite systems being in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service, these had not identified the concerns we found regards to infection control.” from the report
Training records and supervision needed improvement
needs fixingThe training matrix did not accurately show the training staff had completed. The manager also recognised that staff supervision needed to happen more regularly.
“The provider's staff training matrix did not reflect the level of training that staff had received.” from the report
- 01What checks are now used to make sure all staff wear masks correctly when required?
- 02How are visitors screened before entering the home, and what evidence or records will you show us?
- 03What actions from the infection control plan have been completed, and how are they checked?
- 04Is the staff training matrix now complete and accurate, including training about alcohol use, epilepsy, drug use and mental health?
- 05How often will staff receive supervision, and how will you make sure this happens?
This first inspection considered all five key questions, with specific checks on infection prevention and control; there was no previous rating because this was a newly registered service. This explanation was written from the published report of 28 September 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 2022
Hilldales Residential Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection prevention and control arrangements.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 9 March 2021. Inspectors looked at how the home prevented and controlled infections during the coronavirus pandemic.
Inspectors found suitable infection control policies and risk assessments. Staff had PPE, used it correctly, and had completed relevant training. Testing, cleaning and infection control audits were also in place.
Visitors were screened and given instructions about hand hygiene and face coverings. Staff helped people keep in touch with family and friends through alternatives such as video calls.
The service was inspected but not rated. This report does not give a full overall rating or ratings for the other areas of care.
Infection control
The home had suitable infection control risk assessments and an up-to-date policy. Staff understood the reasons for the measures in place.
“There were suitable risk assessments and an up to date infection control policy and procedure in place.” from the report
Cleaning and audits
The home carried out infection prevention and control audits and had a cleaning schedule for all areas.
“A cleaning schedule for all areas of the home was in place and implemented to ensure the whole home was effectively cleaned on a regular basis.” from the report
Keeping families connected
Staff helped people maintain contact with friends and relatives while keeping people safe. Video calls were used as an alternative way to stay in touch.
“Staff helped people to stay in touch with their friends and family.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How is the infection prevention and control policy being applied now, and when was it last updated?
- 02Is there still a reliable supply of PPE, and how are staff checked that they use it correctly?
- 03How often are people living here and staff tested, and what happens if someone has symptoms?
- 04How often are communal areas and bedrooms cleaned, and are cleaning audits still carried out?
- 05What are the current arrangements for visitors and for helping residents keep in touch with family?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas of care were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 August 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.
Every inspection of Hilldales Residential Care Home
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- September 2022Requires improvementcurrent ratingSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
Read what inspectors found at Hilldales Residential Care Home →
- August 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Hilldales Residential Care Home →
- March 2021
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 8 March 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.
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