Hopton Cottage Care Home

Updated 25 March 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 CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of coronavirus, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control practice was safe and the service was compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 9 March 2021 and was announced.

Updated 25 March 2021

About the service: Hopton Cottage Care Home is a purpose-built care home, predominantly ground floor, with 62 bedrooms. It provides accommodation and personal care to those over 65, some of whom may be living with dementia.

People’s experience of using this service:

¿ Without exception, people and their relatives told us they were in receipt of care that was responsive to their diverse needs and individual preferences.

¿ The staff team implemented an extensive program of varied and innovative activities that incorporated the use of new technology and worked in collaboration with academic research. For example, an intergenerational program, daily fun evening exercise to reduce anxiety, social isolation and build stamina, talking electronic tablets to support communication and choice, sensory areas, outings and individualised Valentines day meals for residents and their partners. Activities were highly responsive to people’s emotional, sensory and physical needs and were evaluated to ensure positive outcomes.

¿ People told us they knew what to do if they had any concerns or complaints about the service and the management team had resolved them. The directors used learning from complaints to improve future practice.

¿ People told us they felt safe with staff from Hopton Cottage Care Home. Staff had a good understanding of how to safeguard adults from abuse.

¿ Staff were aware of their responsibilities if they were concerned a person was at risk of harm. Care files contained detailed individual risk assessments to reduce risks to people’s safety and welfare.

¿ People, relatives and community professionals told us there were enough staff on duty to meet people’s needs. The service was actively recruiting to staff vacancies within the team and agency staff were occasionally used. Staff recruitment was safe.

¿ A system was in place to ensure medicines were managed in a safe way for people. Staff were trained and supported to ensure they were competent to administer medicines.

¿ People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. We saw evidence people had given their consent to the care and support they were receiving. Some mental capacity assessments and best interest decisions were in place, however not all best interest discussions had been recorded. We made a recommendation about this.

¿ New staff were supported in their role, which included training and shadowing a more experienced staff member. We saw evidence staff had received regular on-going training in a variety of subjects. Staff received supervision and observations of their performance.

¿ People told us they enjoyed their meals and we saw people received support with meals and drinks. Staff knew how to access relevant healthcare professionals if their input was required. The service worked in partnership with other organisations and healthcare professionals to improve people’s outcomes.

¿ People told us staff were caring and supported them in a way that considered their dignity, privacy and diverse needs. People were supported to be as independent as possible throughout their daily lives.

¿ People told us they thought the service was well led. We found there was a desire to improve systems and to provide person centred care using academic research and best practice initiatives.

¿ The registered provider had an effective system of governance in place to monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service. The directors planned to implement a new electronic records system, which would also improve oversight of staff responses to call bells. They sent us evidence this was completed following our inspection.

¿ People who used the service, staff and relatives were asked for their views about the service and these were acted on.

Rating at last inspection: At the last inspection the service was rated good in all domains (Published 10 August 2016). At this inspection the rating for responsive had improved to outstanding.

Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the last ratings inspection.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor the service to ensure that people receive safe, compassionate, high quality care. Further inspections will be planned for future dates.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk