Hillcrest Care Home

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

Safe – this means we looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm.

At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The provider had a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. Staff listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice. Managers reviewed accidents, incidents and near misses promptly to identify any lessons that could be learned, or improvements that could be made.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed or monitored. They made sure there was continuity of care, including when people moved between different services.

Managers and staff worked closely with health and social care professionals to ensure people received the care and support they needed and were given continuity of care.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. Staff concentrated on improving people’s lives while protecting their right to live in safety, free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm and neglect. The provider shared concerns quickly and appropriately. Staff had received safeguarding training and were aware of their responsibilities. They knew how to raise any concerns and were confident managers would address any issues promptly.

Records included assessments of people’s capacity, best interest meetings and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) applications had been made where required. Staff were aware of DoLS and Mental Capacity Act (MCA). We discussed further training that was planned with staff around specific people and what MCA DoLS meant for them.

People told us they felt safe with the staff who supported them and living at the home. One person said, “Yes, I feel safe and alright.”

The provider worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. Staff provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them.

People, and their relatives, were involved in identifying and managing risks. Risk assessments were very detailed, person-centred, and ensured people were supported in a way that kept them safe and respected things that were important to them. Staff understood how to support people in a way that ensured risks were managed, whilst respecting people’s choices and individuality.

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care. Regular checks of the building and equipment were undertaken. Risks within the environment were identified and well managed. There was a detailed plan in place for refurbishment and redecoration of the home, this work was on going.

The provider made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. They worked together well to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs. Recruitment checks were in place prior to staff starting to work at the home. There were enough skilled and experienced staff deployed. Staff received effective training, support and supervision.

People told us the staff were well trained. People said, “The staff appear quite well trained” and “Everything is going well at the moment, and the staff are always very good.”

The provider assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly. The home and equipment were clean, and risks associated with infections were assessed and well managed.

The provider made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Staff involved people in planning, including when changes happened. Medicines were managed and administered safely. The provider had introduced a new electronic system for managing medicines. Staff told us this helped with administration and oversight.