CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Hillings
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home used effective infection prevention measures, including protective equipment, testing, cleaning and safe visiting arrangements. The provider also had measures to manage COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- 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, January 2022
The Hillings was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection prevention measures were safe and well managed.
This was a targeted inspection on 11 January 2022. It focused on infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic. Inspectors also asked about staffing pressures.
Inspectors found checks for staff and visitors, including temperature checks, COVID-19 status checks, health questions and lateral flow tests. They found suitable use of protective equipment, testing, cleaning, social distancing and visiting arrangements.
The home had plans for managing an outbreak. Staff were allocated to one unit where possible, and the layout helped reduce the risk of infection spreading between units. The home was meeting the requirement for non-exempt staff and visiting professionals to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
This was not a full inspection of the home and no quality rating was given. The Safe question was recorded as 'Inspected but not rated'.
Visitor and staff checks
The home carried out several checks when staff and visitors arrived, including temperature checks, COVID-19 status checks, a health questionnaire and a lateral flow test.
“This included taking your temperature, checking your COVID-19 status, a health questionnaire and undertaking an lateral flow test.” from the report
Managing infection risks
Inspectors found regular checks where people could not keep apart and increased cleaning of frequently touched surfaces.
“The Hillings managed risk in relation to infection well, where people were unable to social distance regular observation checks were recorded and increased touchpoint cleaning was undertaken.” from the report
Outbreak planning
The home had plans for an outbreak. Its layout and staff arrangements were intended to reduce infection spreading between units.
“The service layout provided units to reduce the risk of cross contamination.” from the report
Protective equipment and testing
Inspectors were assured that protective equipment was being used safely and that testing was available for people living in the home and staff.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you currently checking staff and visitors for COVID-19 symptoms, status and infection risk?
- 02What happens if there is an infection outbreak, and how would staff work across the different units?
- 03How do you manage staffing pressures when staff are absent because of COVID-19?
- 04How are visits arranged during an outbreak or period of increased infection risk?
- 05When was the home last given a full inspection and an overall rating?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, with questions about staffing pressures; it was not a full inspection and the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 January 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 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control measures were safe.
This was an unannounced targeted inspection on 5 February 2021. It checked infection prevention and control because of coronavirus outbreaks in care homes.
Inspectors found the home was clean and free from clutter. People entering had their temperature checked, washed their hands, completed a health questionnaire and wore full protective equipment. Staff also changed into uniform and used protective equipment before starting work.
Inspectors were assured about visiting restrictions, social distancing, admissions, protective equipment, testing, cleaning, outbreak management and the infection control policy. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Clean environment
The home was clean and uncluttered. Inspectors saw staff regularly cleaning frequently touched areas.
“The building was clean and free from clutter.” from the report
Entry precautions
People entering the home had several infection control checks and used protective equipment.
“Any person entering the building had their temperature taken, washed their hands, completed a health questionnaire and wore full personal protective equipment (PPE).” from the report
Testing and outbreak planning
Whole-home testing was in place, and inspectors were assured that outbreaks could be prevented or managed effectively.
“Whole home testing was in place for people, visitors and the staff.” from the report
Staff practice checks
The home carried out checks on staff hand hygiene and use of protective equipment.
“Spot checks on staff competencies were in place for hand hygiene and PPE assessments.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What are the current visiting arrangements, and how are exceptional visits managed?
- 02How is testing for residents, visitors and staff organised now?
- 03How often are staff checked on hand hygiene and use of protective equipment?
- 04What are the home's current full CQC ratings for care, staffing, medicines and leadership?
- 05How does the home currently prevent and manage infection outbreaks?
This was an unannounced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control practices; it was not a full inspection and the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 2 March 2021 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 Hillings
4 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- January 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- October 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2016Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 23 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.
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17 live-in carers within about an hour of Cambridgeshire
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 £1,020 to £1,200 a week. 14 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
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.