CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Hulton Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home was using PPE safely, arranging testing, managing admissions and visitors safely, and keeping the premises clean. This assessment covered infection prevention and control only.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not rated. Inspectors did describe the atmosphere as warm, settled and calm, with emphasis on safe and kind care.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not assessed. The report says the home used technology and other ways to help people maintain contact with relatives during visiting restrictions.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This question was not assessed. Inspectors noted that infection control policies were up to date and that a Covid-19 contingency plan was in place.
What inspectors found, December 2020
Hulton Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control and a calm, kind atmosphere.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 18 November 2020. It looked only at infection prevention and control because of coronavirus outbreaks in care homes.
Inspectors found that staff understood and followed infection control procedures. Staff had training in personal protective equipment, supplies were plentiful, testing was taking place, and the home was clean.
The home had up-to-date infection control policies and a detailed Covid-19 contingency plan. Visiting was restricted by government rules, but the manager used technology and other ways to help people stay in contact with relatives.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the visit did not give an overall quality rating or full ratings for all five areas of care.
Infection control
Staff followed infection control procedures, had PPE training and took part in weekly testing. PPE supplies were plentiful and monitored.
“All staff had completed training on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and participated in the weekly testing programme.” from the report
Clean premises
Inspectors found the home clean and hygienic, with regular checks to maintain infection control measures.
“The premises were kept in a clean and hygienic condition throughout and regular checks were undertaken to ensure infection prevention and control measures were maintained.” from the report
Contact with relatives
Although visiting was restricted, the home found different ways for people to keep in touch with their relatives.
“Although visiting was subject to government restrictions, the registered manager had found different ways to enable people to maintain contact with their relatives, which included the use of technology.” from the report
Calm atmosphere
Inspectors found the home warm, settled and calm. Staff worked to support people's spirits and wellbeing.
“The atmosphere in the home was warm, settled and calm.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection prevention and control procedures are in place now?
- 02How often are staff and residents tested, and how are the results managed?
- 03How is PPE supplied and monitored at present?
- 04What are the current arrangements for visiting and helping residents stay in contact with relatives?
- 05How would the home manage a new infection outbreak?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control only; the service was inspected but not rated and the wider areas of care were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 December 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.
What inspectors found, September 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with improvements since the previous Requires Improvement rating.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 12 and 13 September 2018. The inspector observed care, spoke with people, relatives, staff and managers, and checked care files, medicines records, recruitment files, training records and other documents.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, suitable medicine arrangements, personalised care plans, kind staff and effective management checks.
The previous inspection in July 2017 rated the home Requires Improvement and found three legal breaches. Inspectors said the necessary improvements had been made and the home was compliant with the regulations at this inspection.
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs. Medicines were given by trained staff and records showed doses were not missed.
“People received their medicines when they needed them from staff who had been trained and had their competency checked.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans described people's individual needs and preferences. Staff reviewed them regularly and used them to guide day-to-day support.
“The plans were written in a person-centred way, enabling staff to respond effectively to each person's individual needs and preferences.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
People were treated with dignity and staff knew their routines and preferences. Inspectors saw people looking comfortable and relaxed with staff.
“Staff relationships with people were strong, caring and supportive.” from the report
Activities and independence
People were encouraged to remain independent and take part in activities and trips that matched their interests.
“People were encouraged to remain as independent as possible and were supported to participate in a variety of daily activities.” from the report
Management and improvement
The home had regular checks covering areas such as medicines, care plans, accidents, training and infection control. Feedback from people and relatives was used to plan changes.
“A range of auditing and monitoring systems was in place to monitor the quality of service provision, which included seeking and responding to feedback from people living in the home.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you check that people's risk assessments and care plans are still accurate and updated when their needs change?
- 02How are the eight DoLS applications mentioned in the report being followed up, and what is their current status?
- 03How do you make sure medicines continue to be given safely and that staff remain competent?
- 04How are activities and community trips adapted for someone with my relative's interests, mobility and communication needs?
- 05What changes have been made since the June 2018 feedback survey, and how do you check that they have worked?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions and the overall quality of the home. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 September 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 Hulton Care Home
2 rated inspections over a year: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- December 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- September 2018Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2017Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2016
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 9 August 2016.
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.