Dr Kershaw's Hospice

Updated 22 December 2016

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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 27 October 2016. We gave the provider notice of our visit to make sure the provider or the registered manager could be available for the inspection process and to make sure our visit did not impact on the day-to-day running of the service and the support and care of people using the service at that time.

The inspection team consisted of two adult social care inspectors.

We checked the information we held about the service and the provider, including statutory notifications. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send to us. We also sought feedback about the service from the local authority safeguarding team and Oldham Healthwatch. Healthwatch is the national consumer champion in health and care. We did not receive feedback from either party.

A Day Service was offered as part of the facilities at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice. This facility was called ‘Sunfields Day Hospice’ and provided a day service to help meet the needs of people and their families living with life limiting illnesses. People could access the day services in two ways, dependent on needs and preferences. A 12 week programme was offered as well as shorter wellbeing sessions.

The day service provided access to a variety of activities including; Complementary therapies, Yoga and Tai Chi, FAB management classes (Fatigue, Anxiety and Breathlessness) to enable people to manage these symptoms associated with long term disease, Art classes, Craft classes, Relaxation and mindfulness classes, Looking good, Feeling good sessions and Exercise classes.

A Hospice at Home Service was launched on 1 February 2016 to provide a home visiting service to people who are in the last days of life. The main aim of the service is to provide people and their families with the appropriate level of additional care needed to help the person remain in their own home and prevent any unnecessary admissions to hospital.

We spoke with one person who used the service, the manager of the service, the senior nursing sister, the practice development facilitator, one health care assistant and the medical executive director who is also a palliative care specialist.

We looked at four people’s care documentation, four staff personnel files, medicine records, management records including complaints, accidents and incidents, quality audits, feedback information from people using the service and their families and records of the servicing and maintenance of premises and equipment.

Updated 22 December 2016

This inspection took place on 27 October 2016 and was announced.

Dr Kershaw’s Hospice provides care for people with life limiting illnesses through its inpatient unit, day care unit and hospice at home service.

There was a manager in place who had recently had their interview with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to become the registered manager of the service. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People felt safe and had no concerns about their safety or wellbeing. Staff had received training in safeguarding vulnerable adults and were knowledgeable about recognising the signs of abuse and how to report and deal with them.

Staff received training and management support to perform their roles effectively and to deliver high quality care. Sufficient numbers of staff, with the right experience and skill mix were available to provide people with the support and care they needed.

Care plans and associated documentation were person centred and provided the details staff would require to provide effective support in accordance with the person’s needs and preferences. We saw care plans had been reviewed on a regular basis and that the reviews had involved the person and their relative(s) where appropriate. People consented to their care being provided.

We observed staff being kind, considerate and compassionate to people and also responding to requests for assistance quickly and in a sensitive manner. We also saw staff treat people and their visitors with respect and dignity and provide privacy where needed.

Medicines were handled safely and were stored, administered to people and disposed of following clear clinical guidance and in line with current regulations and guidance.

People were supported to receive end of life care. This care took account of the person’s wishes and needs and enabled them to achieve a dignified, private and pain free death. During this difficult time, the person, their family members and staff were offered and provided with bereavement support.

Contingency plans, including emergency procedures were in place for, fire, gas leak, water loss, electrical failure, loss of nursing support, major disaster and contained emergency contact numbers and details.