Background to this inspection
Updated
9 December 2020
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
We received information of concern about infection control and prevention measures at this service. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place. We were reassured of safe practices in relation to infection prevention and control.
This inspection took place on 17 November 2020 and was announced.
Updated
9 December 2020
About the service: The Hawthorns is a registered care home providing personal care for up to 34 older people, including some people who may be living with dementia. At this inspection there were 26 people receiving care at the service, including one person admitted for short term respite care.
People’s experience of using this service: The service continued to meet the characteristics of Good in all areas.
People continued to receive care that was safe. The provider’s arrangements for people’s care helped to protect them people the risk of harm or abuse. The provider took action when things went wrong at the service and referred to relevant authorities involved with people’s care when required to do so.
Staff were safely recruited and deployed to provide people’s care. Risks to people’s health, associated with their care and related safety needs, were effectively monitored and managed. Staff supported people to take their medicines safely when required. Relevant management checks of staff care practice and competency helped to ensure people’s safety when they received care.
People continued to received care that was effective. People’s care needs were effectively accounted for in consultation with them or their representative. Staff supported people to maintain or improve their health and nutrition as agreed with them and any external health professionals involved in their care
People were supported to have maximum control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The provider’s related policies and systems supported this practice. Staff were trained, informed, supported and worked closely with other care providers or agencies to share relevant information about people’s care when needed . This helped to ensure people received consistent and informed care, which they had agreed to.
People continued to receive care from kind, caring staff who treated them with respect and ensured people’s dignity, equality and rights in their care. Staff knew people well; how to communicate with them and understood what was important to people them for their care. People were informed, involved and supported to understand, agree and make ongoing decisions about their care.
People continued to receive timely, personalised care that was tailored to their individual needs and wishes. Care was agreed and provided in a way that helped to optimise people’s independence, autonomy and inclusion in home life and the local community as they chose.
Staff were effectively informed and supported to provide personal care for people living with a life limited illness or at the end stage of life.
People were confident and knew how, to raise a concern or make a complaint if they needed to. People’s views and feedback were regularly sought. Findings from complaints and feedback were used to help inform and ensure any service improvements needed.
Staff were effectively informed and supported to provide personal care for people living with a life limited illness or at the end stage of life.
The provider operated effective governance systems to help ensure the quality and safety of people’s care, including sustained, timely service improvement when needed. Management and staff understood their role and responsibilities for people’s care. Operational management arrangements helped to ensure effective record keeping, safe information handling and timely communication, engagement and partnership working with relevant parties for people’s care.
Remedial management action was in progress following a potential breach of confidentiality and to foster good team working in response to an area of staff feedback.
More information is in the full report.
Rating at last inspection: At our last inspection we rated the service as Good. The report of that inspection was published in April 2016.
Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection to make sure the service remained Good.
Follow up: ongoing monitoring; possibly more about how we will follow up
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk