Hillcroft Nursing Home Morecambe

On this page

• Overview
• Assessing needs
• Delivering evidence-based care and treatment
• How staff, teams and services work together
• Supporting people to live healthier lives
• Monitoring and improving outcomes
• Consent to care and treatment

Effective – this means we looked for evidence that people’s care, treatment and support achieved good outcomes and promoted a good quality of life, based on best available evidence.

At our last assessment of this key question, we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good. This meant people’s outcomes were consistently good, and people’s feedback confirmed this.

This service scored 79 (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 made sure people’s care and treatment was effective by assessing and reviewing their health, care, wellbeing and communication needs with them.

People’s needs were continually assessed. People and others important in their care had been involved in regular assessments of their needs. Assessments were up to date and considered the persons health, care, wellbeing and communication needs. Assessment tools such as food and fluid charts and weight logs were part of people’s care plans. People’s choices had been used to plan their individual care and support needs.

People’s assessments and care plans were reviewed regularly and updated where needed to reflect any changing needs. Families were invited to be involved in and contribute to regular reviews.

The provider planned and delivered people’s care and treatment with them, including what was important and mattered to them. People received care, treatment and support that was evidence-based and in line with good practice standards.

People told us they felt staff knew their needs well and supported them in the right way. A variety of clinical assessments tools were used to assess and understand people’s needs. Staff were skilled and knowledgeable in managing people’s individual needs. A relative told us, “Staff are all very skilled. The staff have eagle eyes and never stop being on it.”

People’s dietary requirements were fully supported by kitchen staff, and where people had a personal preference to meal choices this was fully respected. Staff kept a record of people’s weights to help identify people who may become at risk of malnutrition. We saw people were appropriately supported with eating and drinking where they needed it. Feedback about the food choices and quality were all positive and demonstrated that the kitchen staff knew people’s needs and preferences. Drinks and snacks were frequently offered and readily available for people to access.

The provider always worked well across teams and services to support people. They shared thorough assessments of people’s needs when they moved between different services, so people only needed to tell their story once.

The provider supported and accommodated specific arrangements for a person to be regularly supported by a care worker from another provider to facilitate their transition into the home from their own home. This showed exceptional effective working together with another provider to ensure people were supported throughout their care journey.

Care records were electronic, and these were accessible to staff in live time with current information. Staff worked well with external professionals who had specialist knowledge and shared information where needed to help support people. Staff worked well together and information was shared and communicated regularly within the wider staff teams. A relative told us, “All the staff look happy to be here and some have been here for a long time, even the cleaning staff. If I tell one of the carers something it is always disseminated to all the other staff.”

Staff meetings were used for sharing information and best practice. Staff worked collaboratively to understand and meet people’s needs. Regular clinical reviews of care were held with the GP and or practice staff. A visiting professional told us, “The staff communicate well with each other.”

The provider supported people to manage their health and wellbeing to maximise their independence, choice and control. Staff supported people to live healthier lives and where possible, reduce their future needs for care and support.

People were supported to access a range of health care professionals and staff monitored people’s health and well-being daily. There were regular visits from health care professionals, such as the dentist, optician and podiatrist as they needed to. Relatives told us they had no concerns about people’s health needs being met.

The management team routinely monitored people’s care and treatment to continuously improve it. They ensured that outcomes were positive and consistent, and that they met both clinical expectations and the expectations of people themselves.

People had support to improve and maintain their quality of life by accessing social opportunities and were encouraged to maintain their independence. Regular reviews were completed where people’s outcomes were reassessed.

The provider told people about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment. People’s needs and wishes were upheld.

The service informed people and their families about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment. People and their families received information about their care in a way that they understood.

Consent to care was recorded clearly within people’s care records the provider was meeting the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Records included assessments of people’s capacity and best interest decisions where required. People told us that they were asked for their consent before care or treatment was given. One person said, “Staff always ask before they do anything.”