Archived: Hillcrest

Updated 23 December 2015

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 was an unannounced inspection which was completed on 18 November 2015. One inspector carried out this inspection. The previous inspection was completed in May 2014. This inspection followed up on areas identified at the inspection before. In May 2014, we found the provider had taken action to address those breaches of regulations.

Before the inspection, we asked the provider to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they planned to make. The provider failed to return the PIR by the date given.

We reviewed the information we held about the home. This included notifications, which is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

We contacted the lead for the community learning disability team to obtain their views on the service and how it was being managed. This was then cascaded to the team. No response was received.

During the inspection we looked at two people’s records and those relating to the running of the home. This included staffing rotas, policies and procedures and recruitment and training information for staff. We spoke with two staff and the registered manager. We spent time observing and speaking with the four people living in the home.

Updated 23 December 2015

This was an unannounced inspection, which meant the staff and the provider did not know we would be visiting. The inspection was carried out by one inspector on the 18 November 2015.

Hillcrest provides accommodation, personal care and support for up to 4 people. There were four people living in the home at the time of the visit. People who live at the home have a learning disability. People had their own bedroom and shared the lounge and kitchen with the other occupants. The home was close to the shops and other amenities

There was a registered manager in post. The registered manager was also one of the owners of the business. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission 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.

There was a lack of formal systems to monitor and improve the quality of the service. This included seeking the views of people and their representatives through surveys. Staff did not always receive the training needed to meet people’s needs effectively. Whilst staff had received some training it was not clear how often this should be updated and there were gaps in what the provider expected staff to complete. Staff had not been trained in food hygiene.

People could not be confident that they were safe in the event of a fire. This was because staff had not taken part in regular fire drills. There were delays in making repairs for people to be safe in the event of a fire.

People were protected from the risk of abuse because there were clear procedures in place to recognise and respond to abuse and staff had been trained in how to follow the procedures. Systems were in place to ensure people were safe including risk management, checks on the environment and safe recruitment processes. People received their medicines safely.

Systems were in place to ensure that complaints were responded to, with action taken to improve the service provided. There had not been any recent complaints.

People were involved in making decisions about their care. People had a care plan that clearly described how they wanted to be supported. People had opportunities to take part in activities both in the home and the local community. People were encouraged to be independent. Other health and social care professionals were involved in the care of the people living at Hillcrest.

Staff were knowledgeable about the people they were supporting. They were caring in their approach to people. Staff told us they were supported in their role and met with the registered manager regularly to discuss their performance and any training needs.

The registered manager regularly visited the service to speak with staff and people and to work alongside the team. They were knowledgeable about the people living at Hillcrest and it was evident positive relationships had been built.

We found three breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of this report.