The Care Quality Commission
  • Hospice service

Springhill Hospice (Rochdale)

Overall: Outstanding read more about inspection ratings

Broad Lane, Rochdale, Lancashire, OL16 4PZ (01706) 649920

Provided and run by:
Springhill Hospice (Rochdale)

All Inspections

4 and 5 July 2023

During a routine inspection

Our rating of this location improved. We rated it as outstanding because:

  • Staff always treated patients and relatives with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, and took account of their individual needs. There was a strong, visible person-centred culture that was promoted by service leaders. Staff were highly motivated and inspired to offer care that was kind and promoted people’s dignity. Feedback from patients and those who are close to them was continually positive about the way staff treat people.
  • Staff provided emotional support to patients, families and carers to minimise their distress. Staff recognised and respected the totality of people’s needs. They always took people’s personal, cultural, social and religious needs into account, and found innovative ways to meet them. People’s emotional and social needs were seen as being as important as their physical needs.
  • Staff saw people, who were approaching end of life, and those close to them as active partners in their care. Staff were fully committed to working in partnership with patients, families and carers to make this a reality for each person.
  • The service proactively planned its services and provided care in a way that took into account and, quickly and responsively, met the preferences and needs of local people and the communities it served. The service was inclusive and responsive in its tailored care to meet the individual and complex needs of its patients.
  • Patients could access the specialist palliative care service in a way and at a time when they needed it. Waiting times from referral to achievement of preferred place of care and death were in line with good practice.
  • The service had enough staff to care for patients and keep them safe. Staff had training in key skills, understood how to protect patients from abuse, and managed safety well. The service controlled infection risk well. Staff assessed risks to patients, acted on them and kept good care records. They managed medicines well. The service managed safety incidents well and learned lessons from them.
  • Staff provided good care and treatment, gave patients enough to eat and drink, and gave them pain relief when they needed it. Managers monitored the effectiveness of the service and made sure staff were competent. Staff worked well together for the benefit of patients, supported them to make decisions about their care, and had access to good information. Key services were available seven days a week.
  • Leaders ran services well using reliable information systems and supported staff to develop their skills. Staff understood the service’s vision and values, and how to apply them in their work. Staff felt respected, supported and valued. They were focused on the needs of patients receiving care. Staff were clear about their roles and accountabilities. The service engaged well with patients and the community to plan and manage services and all staff were committed to improving services continually.

16 August 2016

During a routine inspection

We inspected Springhill Hospice on the 16 and 17 August 2016. The first day of the inspection was unannounced. We last inspected Springhill Hospice on 15 October 2013 where we found all the regulations that we looked at had been complied with.

Springhill Hospice is a charitable organisation that provides a range of hospice services for adults with a life-limiting illness. The hospice is purpose built and provides accommodation on the Inpatient Ward for up to 16 people. The hospice also has a Specialist Palliative Care Community Service, a Day Hospice, and a Hospice at Home service. In addition the hospice offers a 24 hour telephone advice line for professionals, people who use the service and their families. The hospice is close to public transport routes and is situated in a residential area of Rochdale, not too far from the town centre. It is set in large well-maintained gardens with adequate parking and clearly defined parking areas for disabled visitors. Services are free to people, with Springhill Hospice receiving some NHS funding and the remaining funds achieved through fundraising and charitable donations.

There were 16 people being cared for in the Inpatient Ward during our inspection, 16 people in the Day Hospice and approximately 240 people in the community.

The hospice had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) who was present during the inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with CQC to manage the service. Like registered providers they are 'registered persons'. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated regulations about how the service is run.

We found there was one breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. Medicines were not always given as prescribed, appropriate systems were not in place for the management of medicines requiring refrigeration and relevant information to enable staff to administer ‘when required’ medicine safely was not in place. You can see what action we have told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.

The expressions of gratitude relayed to us demonstrated that people were cared for with the utmost compassion, kindness, dignity and respect. People spoke highly of the kindness and caring attitude of the staff. People told us they received the care they needed when they needed it and that staff were knowledgeable and committed. Visitors were made welcome and the staff recognised and considered the importance of caring for the needs of family members and friends.

People were supported at the end of their life to have a comfortable, dignified and pain-free death. The nursing and medical staff showed they were highly skilled in pain and symptom control. Staff were passionate about the need to spread awareness and knowledge of end of life care by introducing an innovative and creative programme of training for staff caring for people in care homes.

We found that people received outstanding care. People's privacy was respected and people were assisted in a way that respected their dignity. We observed respectful, kindly and caring interactions between the staff, the people who used the service and visitors. People looked well cared for and there was enough equipment available to ensure people's safety, comfort and independence were protected.

The way that the hospice staff worked in partnership with other organisations was outstandingly effective. The staff were passionate about the need to spread awareness and share their knowledge of end of life care with other services that were involved in supporting people in the community.

We saw how the cultural and religious needs of all faiths was considered and respected. Staff told us they strived to ensure that people’s spiritual needs were met. There was a Spiritual and Pastoral Care Co-ordinator who was available to spend time with people in the Day Hospice, the Inpatient Ward and to people in the community.

The care records showed people were involved in the assessment of their needs. A person's preferred place of care at all stages of their illness and the arrangements in the event of their death were documented. The care records we looked at showed that risks to people's health and well-being had been identified, such as poor nutrition, the risk of developing pressure ulcers and the risk of falls. We saw care plans had been put into place to help reduce or eliminate the identified risks.

Suitable arrangements were in place to help safeguard people from abuse. Staff knew what to do if an allegation of abuse was made to them or if they suspected that abuse had occurred.

We found people and their families were cared for and supported by sufficient numbers of suitably skilled, competent and experienced staff that were safely recruited. Staff received the essential training and support necessary to enable them to do their job effectively and care for people safely.

All areas of the hospice were secure, well maintained and accessible for people with limited mobility. In addition good infection control procedures were in place;, making it a safe environment for people to live and work in. We saw that appropriate environmental risk assessments had been completed in order to promote the safety of people who used the service, members of staff and visitors. Systems were in place for carrying out regular health and safety checks and equipment was serviced and maintained regularly.

Staff were able to demonstrate their understanding of the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS); these provide legal safeguards for people who may be unable to make their own decisions. Staff sought people's consent before they supported them. The staff we spoke with had an in depth knowledge of the care and support the people who used the service required.

People were provided with a choice of suitable and nutritious food and drink to ensure their health care needs were met. People who were at risk of malnutrition and poor hydration had their food and fluid intake monitored to help ensure their well- being.

The management structure within the hospice enabled staff and volunteers to understand the clear levels of responsibility and accountability. Management sought feedback from people who used the service and also sought feedback from staff and volunteers. Action plans were implemented to address any issues of dissatisfaction that were raised.

To help ensure that people received safe, effective care and support, systems were in place to monitor the quality of the service provided. Systems were also in place for receiving, handling and responding appropriately to complaints.

15 October 2013

During a routine inspection

During our visit we spoke with two patients and asked them to tell us how they felt they were being cared for. They told us, 'The staff are brilliant' and 'Very kind, very caring and they are looking after me very well'.

Arrangements were in place to help ensure patients were treated in a respectful, dignified way and were involved in the making of decisions about their care, support and treatment.

Patients' care records contained enough information to show how they were to be supported and cared for.

The patients were provided with a choice of suitable and nutritious food and hydration to ensure their nutritional needs were met.

Arrangements were in place to ensure the patients were cared for by skilled and experienced staff that were safely recruited.

Patients were cared for by staff that were properly trained, supported and supervised.

13 September 2012

During a routine inspection

We spoke with one person who used the service and the relative of another person who used the service. They told us they were very happy with the services provided and that the staff were very caring, professional and helpful. They also told us the staff were available when they needed them.

The people we spoke with told us that they had no concerns about the care they received. They told us that if they had any concerns or complaints, they would speak to the senior staff on duty.