CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Starr Hills
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home used protective equipment safely, supported testing, admitted people safely and kept its infection control policy up to date. They also found the home clean and hygienic.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, March 2022
Starr Hills was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and safe visiting arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 16 February 2022. Inspectors looked mainly at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and the effect of COVID-19 staffing pressures. They gave the home 24 hours' notice.
Inspectors found safe systems for admitting people, using protective equipment, testing and managing infection risks. The home was clean, cleaning schedules were followed and staff had access to enough protective equipment. The provider also had measures to manage COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
The inspection was not given a quality rating. The report records the overall service and the Safe question as 'Inspected but not rated', so it does not provide a new rating for the other four questions.
Safe admissions
The home had dedicated staff to support safe admissions and continued care in line with national guidance.
“The provider had dedicated staff to ensure people were admitted safely and continued to be supported in the service in accordance with national guidance.” from the report
Protective equipment
Staff were observed using protective equipment safely, and the home had sufficient supplies.
“During our visit we observed the staff using Personal Protective Equipment, (PPE) safely.” from the report
Clean environment
The home had cleaning schedules, protective equipment stations and regular checks of cleanliness.
“Cleaning schedules were in place and PPE stations placed around the home.” from the report
Contact with relatives
The home used phones and computers to help people keep in touch with relatives when visiting was restricted.
“Social media systems such as mobile phones and computer systems were used to facilitate contact between people and their relatives.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What are the current visiting arrangements, including what happens during an infection outbreak?
- 02How will you support my relative to keep in contact with family if indoor visiting is restricted?
- 03How do you manage staffing pressures when staff are absent because of COVID-19?
- 04How often are infection control policies, cleaning schedules and protective equipment supplies checked?
- 05When was the home's last full inspection and what ratings were given for Caring, Responsive and Well-led?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19 staffing pressures; it was not a full quality-rating inspection and the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 March 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, March 2019
Starr Hills is rated Outstanding overall; inspectors found exceptionally caring and responsive support, with safe, effective and well-led care rated Good.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 19 February 2019. Inspectors reviewed records, staffing, recruitment, the building and safety arrangements. They spoke with 11 people living at the home, four relatives or friends, the manager and several staff.
People told inspectors they felt safe and were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Care was highly personalised. Staff supported people to make choices, stay independent, keep family links and take part in activities. Inspectors also found good arrangements for medicines, food, staff training, risk management and working with health services.
The overall rating was Outstanding. Caring and Responsive were Outstanding, while Safe, Effective and Well-led were Good. The previous inspection, on 31 January 2017, also rated the service Outstanding overall.
Staffing and activities
Inspectors found high staffing levels and a range of staff skills. This enabled people to receive individual support and pursue interests inside and outside the home.
“Starr Hills continued to have exceptionally high levels of staffing and skill mixes, which were deployed in innovative ways so they could respond to people's needs and choices.” from the report
Personalised end of life support
The home had developed thoughtful support for people approaching the end of life, including help for relatives and information about different faiths.
“The service demonstrated an extremely compassionate awareness and understanding to end of life care.” from the report
Quality oversight
The manager used audits, daily handovers and regular checks around the building to monitor care and identify improvements.
“The registered manager used a variety of methods to assess and monitor the quality of the service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you support my relative's personal goals, independence and preferred daily routine?
- 02What staffing levels and individual support would be available if my relative needed one-to-one help?
- 03How would you meet my relative's dietary needs, food preferences and any risk of poor eating or drinking?
- 04How would you support my relative's communication needs, including hearing, eyesight or other aids?
- 05How would you involve our family in care reviews and support my relative's faith or end of life wishes?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering the care home, the premises and the care provided, with ratings given for all five key questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 March 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 Starr Hills
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Outstanding rating throughout.
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- March 2019Outstandingstayed OutstandingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- January 2017OutstandingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- November 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 22 December 2010.
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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
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.