CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Hawthorns
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found effective safeguarding systems, enough staff, suitable risk assessments and safe medicines arrangements. Accidents and incidents were reviewed for patterns and learning.
- Effective?
- Good
- People had detailed assessments and regularly reviewed care plans. Staff received induction, ongoing training and training linked to people's specific needs.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect. People were involved in decisions, and staff understood their communication needs and preferred routines.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Support plans were exceptionally person-centred and focused on people's abilities, preferences and goals. Staff supported people to build confidence, develop skills, maintain relationships and take part in activities.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- Inspectors found exceptionally strong leadership, an open culture and well-developed quality checks. People, relatives and staff were actively involved in improving the home.
What inspectors found, April 2020
Rated Outstanding; inspectors found exceptionally person-centred care, with Good ratings for safety, effectiveness and caring.
Inspectors visited the home without notice on 10 September 2019. They spoke with one person, eight relatives, six staff and two professionals. They also reviewed care plans, medicines records, recruitment files, training records and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective and Caring. Inspectors found people were protected from abuse, supported to take positive risks, given safe medicines support and helped to access healthcare. Staff were described as kind, respectful and well trained.
Responsive and Well-led were rated Outstanding. Inspectors found highly personalised support, strong involvement of people and relatives, excellent community links and creative work to build confidence, independence and life skills. The overall rating improved from Good at the previous inspection to Outstanding.
Personalised support
Care plans focused on each person's abilities and what mattered to them. Technology helped staff track outcomes and respond quickly when needs changed.
“People's care and support plans were exceptionally person-centred.” from the report
Independence and life skills
Staff helped people make choices, gain confidence and develop independence. They supported people to try activities that reduced anxiety or improved wellbeing.
“People's support focused on them having as full a life as possible, gaining new skills and growing in confidence and independence.” from the report
Activities and community links
People were supported to maintain relationships and take part in varied activities in the home and local community.
“The service had developed excellent links with the local community.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors found that staff communicated compassionately, respected privacy and dignity, and encouraged people to do things for themselves.
“People were supported by staff who were kind, caring and treated them with dignity and respect.” from the report
Open leadership
The provider and managers encouraged feedback, learned from mistakes and used regular checks to improve care and facilities.
“The provider and management team promoted an open and honest ethos and learned from mistakes.” from the report
Home size
minorThe home is larger than current best practice guidance for this type of service and was supporting nine people. Inspectors said the building design and surrounding homes helped reduce any negative impact.
“The service was a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties.” from the report
- 01How would you assess and support my relative's communication needs, and what would be included in their communication profile?
- 02How would my relative be involved in choosing activities, setting goals and reviewing their care plan?
- 03How does the size of the home affect privacy, choice, staffing and opportunities for independence?
- 04How do you monitor medicines, including whether psychotropic medicines can be reduced where appropriate?
- 05How would you identify and respond if anxiety, pain or changes in behaviour suggested that my relative needed healthcare support?
This was an unannounced planned inspection that assessed all five key questions, with the previous Good ratings for Safe, Effective and Caring remaining unchanged and Responsive and Well-led improving to Outstanding. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 April 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, January 2017
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with no breaches reported.
The announced inspection took place on 22 November 2016. One inspector spoke with managers and care staff, contacted four relatives, observed care and reviewed records, including four care plans and medicines records for two people.
All five areas were rated Good: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, trained staff, safe medicines practice, individual care plans and support with health, activities and independence.
The home supported people with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. Inspectors found that mental capacity and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards requirements were understood and followed. All nine DoLS applications had been authorised.
Safe staffing
Inspectors found enough staff to keep people safe. A core team system was used to support continuity of care.
“We found that the provider employed sufficient numbers of staff to keep people safe and each person had a support worker allocated to them” from the report
Safe medicines
Staff who gave medicines were trained and assessed as competent. The records checked showed no gaps, and medicines were stored safely.
“We looked at medicine administration records (MAR) for two people and found that medicines had been given consistently and there were no gaps in the MAR charts.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Relatives spoke positively about the care. Inspectors saw mutual respect and trust between people and staff.
“We observed staff interacting with people who lived at the service. People and staff had a good relationship and there was evidence of mutual respect and trust.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans focused on each person's needs, independence and development. The home adapted communication and the environment for individuals.
“We saw that individual care plans focussed on supporting a person to live well, maintain their independence and develop new skills.” from the report
Active lives
People were supported to take part in hobbies, education, voluntary work, sports and community activities of their choice.
“We found that people's sporting, life skills and academic achievements were recognised.” from the report
Recent staff turnover
minorRelatives said that previous high staff turnover had recently improved. It would be sensible to check whether staffing continuity remains stable.
“The relatives we spoke with said that staffing levels and the previous high turnover of staff had recently improved.” from the report
- 01Has staff turnover remained improved since the inspection, and will my relative have a consistent core team?
- 02What DoLS authorisation applies to my relative, and how is it reviewed with them, their family or an advocate?
- 03How will my relative's communication needs be recorded and shared with health professionals?
- 04How are medicines that are hidden in food or drink authorised, reviewed and explained to families?
- 05How will my relative's chosen activities, friendships and independence be supported?
This was an announced inspection covering all five key questions and included observations, discussions with staff and relatives, and reviews of care, medicines, training and quality records. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 January 2017 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 The Hawthorns
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- April 2020Outstandingcurrent ratingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- January 2017GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 10 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.
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
9 live-in carers within about an hour of Lincolnshire
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.
8 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Martin was more than a carer, he managed the home and became my uncle's best friend, enriching his life during his last few years.”
“Magda was always positive and proactive about trying new things to keep dad busy. She also introduced new ideas for keeping dad healthy.”
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.