CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Highcroft Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Medicines, staffing, recruitment, risk management, fire safety and infection control were described as safe.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this visit. The previous rating was carried forward when calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this visit. The previous rating was carried forward when calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this visit. The previous rating was carried forward when calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found a positive culture, visible management and systems for checking quality and safety. People, relatives and staff were able to give their views.
What inspectors found, January 2024
Rated Good; inspectors found safe care, enough staff and strong management, but this inspection only checked Safe and Well-led.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 10 January 2024. One inspector spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff, the registered manager, the provider and a visiting health professional. They also observed care, checked records and looked around the building.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe and Well-led were both rated Good. Inspectors found that people were protected from abuse, medicines were managed safely, there were enough staff, recruitment checks were completed and infection control practices were followed.
Inspectors also found regular checks on the building, equipment, care and medicines. The management team used audits, listened to people and relatives, and worked with health and social care professionals.
This was a focused inspection. Effective, Caring and Responsive were not inspected during this visit, so their previous ratings were carried forward to calculate the overall rating.
Safe care
People told inspectors they felt safe. The home had safeguarding processes, risk assessments and checks on the building and equipment.
“It's my home and I feel relaxed and safe here.” from the report
Staffing and recruitment
Inspectors found enough staff on duty and thorough recruitment checks before staff started work.
“Records looked at confirmed all checks had been completed prior to staff commencing work.” from the report
Good management oversight
The management team used audits and other checks to monitor the quality and safety of the home. Staff said they felt supported.
“The registered manager had systems to monitor the quality and safety of service.” from the report
Listening to people
People and relatives could share their views through meetings and surveys and felt able to approach staff and the registered manager.
“People and their relatives were comfortable and confident when approaching staff and the registered manager to express their views.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you check that medicines continue to be given safely and that staff remain competent?
- 02How do you decide how many staff are needed on each shift, including when people's needs change?
- 03What improvements have been made through the home's quality audits since this inspection?
- 04How are people and relatives kept informed about the refurbishment and any changes to the building?
- 05How can residents and relatives raise concerns or give feedback between meetings and surveys?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; Effective, Caring and Responsive were not inspected and their previous ratings were carried forward from the last inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 30 January 2024 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, February 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control, safe visiting arrangements and a clean home.
This was a targeted inspection on 8 February 2022. Inspectors looked mainly at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements, COVID-19 testing and vaccination, and whether staffing pressures were affecting care.
Inspectors found safe processes for admissions, visiting and infection control. Staff used protective equipment safely, supplies were available, and people and staff were tested regularly. The home was clean and hygiene checks were being completed.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give an overall quality rating or a separate rating for the wider areas of care.
Infection control
Inspectors found that infection prevention procedures were in place and being reviewed. The home was following arrangements for testing, protective equipment and preventing outbreaks.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Safe visiting
The home used phones and computer systems to help people keep in touch with relatives. Management was supporting visits in line with government guidance.
“The registered manager was facilitating safe visiting in line with government guidance.” from the report
Clean environment
The home was clean and hygienic. Cleaning schedules, protective equipment stations and regular environmental checks were in place.
“The home was clean and hygienic. Cleaning schedules were in place and PPE stations placed around the home.” from the report
Protective equipment
Inspectors saw staff using protective equipment safely and confirmed that sufficient supplies were available.
“During our visit we observed the staff using Personal Protective Equipment, (PPE) safely.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are current staffing pressures affecting people's care and daily routines?
- 02How do you keep the infection prevention and control policy up to date?
- 03What are the current arrangements for relatives to visit safely?
- 04How often are people and staff tested, and what happens if someone tests positive?
- 05How do you make sure new people are admitted safely?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 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.
Every inspection of The Highcroft Care Home
5 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2024Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2018Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2017Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2016Goodstayed GoodSafe: Requires improvement
- September 2015GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 July 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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32 live-in carers within about an hour of Blackpool
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 £1,250 a week. 31 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“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.”
“He developed a close affinity with Terence, spending time talking with him before he retired to bed and looking after his needs during the night.”
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.