Archived: Hardwick House Retirement Home

Updated 26 October 2019

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection team consisted of one inspector.

Service and service type

Hardwick House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was an unannounced comprehensive inspection. The inspection was carried out on 1 October 2019.

What we did before the inspection

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We reviewed information from other agencies and statutory notifications sent to us by the registered manager about events that had occurred at the service. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about by law.

We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with six people living at Hardwick House, one relative. We met and spoke to five members of staff, including the provider/registered manager and care staff.

We looked at a range of care records, including three people’s care plans and associated documentation. We reviewed daily records, looked at people’s medicine administration records (MAR) charts. We reviewed two staff recruitment files and records relating to the management of the home, procedures and quality assurance processes.

After the inspection

We received feedback from two further relatives. Looked at meeting minutes, rotas and quality assurance surveys provided by the registered manager.

Updated 26 October 2019

Hardwick House provides care and accommodation for up to 19 older people with care needs associated with older age. There were 14 people living at the service on the day of our inspection. Hardwick House is an adapted building in a residential area of Eastbourne with a passenger lift and access to outside areas.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People lived in an open, friendly, family atmosphere where they felt safe and well cared for. People had good relationships with staff and other people living at Hardwick House. During the inspection we saw people engaging happily with laughter and good-humoured banter.

People received care and support from staff who knew them well. Staff were trained and competent in their roles and monitored people's health and wellbeing. When needed, referrals were made to other healthcare professionals. Staff responded to advice given to ensure people received the care they required.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People had a high level of independence and made choices about their care and support, what they did each day and how they spent their time.

People were supported to maintain relationships that were important to them. People socialised together during meals and activities. Relationships with family and friends were supported and encouraged. People were able to take part in activities and follow their interests. People enjoyed a variety of activities, trips out and social events.

People lived in a home which was well managed and had systems to monitor standards of care and ensure on-going improvements. People told us the registered manager/provider and all staff were open, honest and approachable and they could raise any issues with them.

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

Rating at last inspection:

The last rating for this service was Good (published 4 April 2017)

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.