Background to this inspection
Updated
21 April 2021
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.
As part of the Care Quality Commissions' (CQC’s), response to the coronavirus pandemic we are looking at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.
This inspection took place on 19 March 2021 and was announced.
Updated
21 April 2021
The inspection visit at Hillcroft Morecambe Nursing Care Home took place on 13 and 14 September 2017 and was unannounced.
Hillcroft Nursing Home Morecambe is one of six nursing homes in the Hillcroft group.
There are three units, two catering for people living with dementia and one with general nursing beds. The home is located in a residential area of Morecambe and has attractive grounds including an enclosed garden. At the time of our inspection there were 53 people living at the home.
The service had a registered manager. 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.
At the last inspection, the service was rated Good. At this inspection, the service remained Good.
During this inspection, we received comments that demonstrated people were satisfied with their care. The management and staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities. They were committed to providing good care and support to people who lived at the home.
Records we looked at indicated staff had received safeguarding from abuse training. Staff we spoke with told us they were aware of the safeguarding procedure and knew what to do should they witness any abusive actions at the rest home. One person told us, “Everything is fine, I feel perfectly safe. I never feel unsafe in here; in fact I am safe and happy.” A member of staff commented, “We have got a good culture here, we know we can report anything.”
The provider had recruitment and selection procedures to minimise the risk of inappropriate employees working with vulnerable people. Checks had been completed prior to any staff commencing work at the home. This was confirmed from discussions with staff.
We found staffing levels were suitable with an appropriate skill mix to meet the needs of people who lived at the home. The deployment of staff was structured to meet the needs of people who lived at the home.
Staff responsible for assisting people with their medicines had maintained their professional qualifications to ensure they were competent and had the skills required. Medicines were safely managed and appropriate arrangements for storing medicines were in place.
Staff received training related to their role and were knowledgeable about their responsibilities. They had the skills, knowledge and experience required to support people with their care and support needs.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice. One person told us, “The staff here are very good, the carers and nurses are always respectful.”
People who were able told us they were happy with the variety and choice of meals available to them. We saw regular snacks and drinks were provided between meals to ensure people received adequate nutrition and hydration. One person told us, “I particularly like the stews, pies and fish; they also keep me well stocked with biscuits.”
We found people had access to healthcare professionals and their healthcare needs were met. We saw the management team had responded promptly when people had experienced health problems.
Care plans were organised and had identified care and support people required. We found they were informative about care people had received. They had been kept under review and updated when necessary to reflect people’s changing needs.
People told us they were happy with the activities organised at Hillcroft Morecambe Nursing Home. The activities were arranged for individuals and for groups.
A complaints procedure was available and people we spoke with said they knew how to complain. People and staff spoken with felt the registered manager was accessible, supportive and approachable.
The registered manager had sought feedback from people who lived at the home and staff. They had consulted with people and their relatives for input on how they could continually improve. The registered provider had regularly completed a range of audits to maintain people’s safety and welfare.