Starr Hills care home, Lancashire, rated Outstanding by Care Quality Commission

Published: 8 February 2017 Page last updated: 12 May 2022

The CQC has found the quality of care provided by Starr Hills, Lytham St Annes to be outstanding following an inspection in November 2016.

Starr Hills offers personal care to older people. Set on two floors all bedrooms are single with en-suite facilities. There were 36 people living at Starr Hills at the time of the inspection visit.

The service was rated Outstanding for being caring and responsive, and Good for being safe, effective and well-led.   

A full report of the inspection has been published on our website.
 

Debbie Westhead, Deputy Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care in the North, said:

“We found the quality of care provided at Starr Hills in Lytham St Annes to be outstanding." 

“People who lived at the home and relatives told us they experienced exceptionally high standards of care. Staff and the management team had a consistent, kind and extremely compassionate attitude to support people."

“It was impressive to see the way that the ratio of staff allowed one to one support to support people following their hobbies which we saw had a hugely positive effect on people’s lives. We found  fantastic examples of how activities and ratios of staff had an impact on their lives. For example one person admitted to staff they were upset at leaving friends where they lived. Staff suggested to the person to invite their friends for a coffee morning. Staff took invites for people, arranged travel from their home community and ten people showed up. This demonstrated how staff found innovative ways for people to maintain friendships.

“Staff and the management team offered excellent opportunities to learn new skills and knowledge for people. For example one person who lived at the home showed an interest in how dementia affected people.  As part of an innovative approach the management team facilitated the person to attend a ‘dementia awareness course’ with staff. The person really enjoyed the course and we spoke with them. They told us it was such a fantastic experience.”

“The service demonstrated an extremely compassionate awareness and understanding to end of life care. For example they had developed an ‘end of life box’. This box contained a prayer book (If appropriate), music disc (CD) player with relaxing music, massage oil, scented candles and a book of comforting phrases. Comments from relatives told us the music and candles helped soothe and comfort them at a difficult time."

“The whole team should be very proud of the service they are providing.”

The report highlights a number of impressive areas at Starr Hills.

Ends

For further information please contact CQC Regional Engagement Officer Kerri James by email kerri.james@cqc.org.uk or by phone on 07464 92 9966. 

Journalists wishing to speak to the press office outside of office hours can find out how to contact the team here.

Please note: the press office is unable to advise members of the public on health or social care matters. For general enquiries, please call 03000 61 61 61.

“We found the quality of care provided at Starr Hills in Lytham St Annes to be outstanding."

Debbie Westhead, CQC Deputy Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care in the North

About the Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.

We make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and we encourage care services to improve.

We monitor, inspect and regulate services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety and we publish what we find to help people choose care.