Hillside Homes

Updated 27 May 2022

The inspection

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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

One inspector carried out the inspection.

Service and service type

Hillside Homes is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Hillside Homes is a care home without nursing care. 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 unannounced.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority and Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. 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 used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with two people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care

provided. People who used the service who were unable to verbally communicate with us used different ways of communicating including their body language. We observed people's interactions with staff.

We spoke with seven members of staff including the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. The registered manager, a senior team leader and care workers. We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care and medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke with two professionals who regularly worked with the service.

Updated 27 May 2022

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

About the service

Hillside provides residential care and support to five adults with learning disabilities and mental health conditions, which enables them to maintain their own independence. The service is situated in the suburbs of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. There were three people using this service at the time of our inspection.

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

We have made a recommendation about care records.

Right Support

¿ Staff supported people to have the maximum possible choice, control and independence, be independent and they had control over their own lives. People were supported by staff to pursue their interests.

¿ People had a choice about their living environment and were able to personalise their rooms.

Staff gave people care and support in a safe, clean, well equipped, well-furnished and well-maintained environment that met their needs. Relatives felt the home was safe and homely which was important to them and the people at the service.

¿ Staff supported people to make decisions following best practice in decision-making. Staff communicated with people in ways that met their needs.

¿ Staff enabled people to access specialist health and social care support in the community. Staff supported people to play an active role in maintaining their own health and wellbeing, including access to screening and primary care services.

¿ We saw conversations were had with people about their medical needs and what worked well for them, what didn't work for them and what they would like to happen next.

Right Care

¿ People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people's privacy and dignity. They understood and responded to their individual needs. We observed people interact comfortably with staff involved in their care and support. Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse.

¿ The provider had enough appropriately skilled staff to meet people's needs and keep them safe. People could communicate with staff and understand information given to them because staff supported them consistently and understood their individual communication needs.

¿ People's care and support plans reflected their range of needs and this promoted their wellbeing and enjoyment of life. People could take part in activities and pursue interests. Staff, people and their relatives spoke about social and leisure events they had enjoyed and their future plans.

¿ Staff cooperated to assess risks people might face. Where appropriate, staff encouraged and enabled people to take positive risks.

Right Culture

¿ People led inclusive and empowered lives because of the ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the management and staff. People received good quality care and support because staff could meet their needs and wishes. Staff were alert to emotional communication and addressed signs of distress or frustration.

¿ People and those important to them were involved in planning their care. The provider evaluated the quality of support provided to people, involving the person, their families and other professionals as appropriate.

¿ The management team had good oversight of the service and were making continuous improvements to people's experiences of care. The provider has set a culture that valued reflection and learning. Staff told us they could raise concerns with managers and they felt safe.

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 29 November 2017).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service. We looked at

infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home

inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service

can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

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