Hillside Care Home

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

Systems were in place to help keep people safe and risks were assessed appropriately. Risk assessments and care plans were up to date and contained personalised information. Staff were aware of people's risks and how to keep them safe. There were sufficient safely recruited staff to meet people’s needs and to respond to their needs in a timely manner.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

We did not look at Learning culture during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Safe systems, pathways and transitions during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

Where incidents had been raised, they were reported appropriately to the local authority safeguarding team in line with local procedures and appropriate safeguarding investigations were carried out. The service was working within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and if needed, appropriate legal authorisations were in place to deprive a person of their liberty. Any conditions related to DoLS authorisations were being met.

People told us they felt safe living at Hillside Care Home and told us they could speak with staff if at all worked. One person said, “I feel safe, people are very nice.” Another person told us, “Yes I'd feel comfortable speaking to a carer.” Relatives also told us their family member was safe living at the service. One relative commented, “I have always felt that my [family member] has been safe whilst being a resident at Hillside Care Home.”

Staff received safeguarding training and knew how to recognise and report any concerns about people's safety and welfare should they have had any. One staff member said, “I am aware of raising a safeguarding issue, if I was concerned of any type of abuse I will speak to a trusted peer, in this home would be my home manager. I know [they] will listen and take the appropriate following steps.”

People felt safe receiving care from the staff who they told us knew them well. One person told us, “I like it here and do not want to move.” Relatives were also positive that their family member was safe living at Hillside Care home. One relative told us, “I have always felt that my [family member] has been safe whilst being a resident at Hillside Care Home.”

During our assessment visit we saw that staff knew people well and approached peopled to ensure their safety and provided support in line with their plan of care. People responded positively to staff.

Staff received training on safeguarding and understood their responsibility to record and report any concerns. One staff member told us, “I am confident in raising safeguarding concerns and work closely with [the local authority] to conduct thorough investigations. The outcomes of safeguarding referrals and any untoward incidents are shared with all staff members during our monthly team meetings. We also provide more detailed discussions with specific individuals or teams when necessary.”

Risks associated with people's care and home environments were assessed and well managed. Risk assessments were in place to inform staff how to provide safe care. Risks were regularly reviewed to ensure people were safely supported. The staff team working at the service knew and understood the risks to people well. Risks associated with pressure ulcer prevention were carefully considered and any risks identified though weekly risk meetings were escalated quickly where required. The service worked closely with the community nursing team and GP surgery.

We did not look at Safe environments during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

Feedback from people was mostly positive about staffing. One person told us, “There is always someone around. Staff check me at night.” Another person commented, “The staff always work jolly hard and they are quick to answer if you use the call bell. Staff at night, come and check if I'm comfortable and have glass water at hand. They peep in several times throughout the night. I find that comforting.” One person told us that there was, at times, a delay in staff responding to their needs. We recommend that the provider continues closely monitoring and reviewing staffing levels using an effective tool and through frequent communication with people, their relatives and staff, to ensure people’s needs continue to be met in a timely manner.

There were enough staff to meet people's needs. During our visit we found staff were present and attentive. We observed people did not have to wait long for appropriate care and support. Staff were not task orientated and we observed times throughout our visit where they had time to interact with people.

Staff were recruited safely. Checks on people's suitability to work in a care setting were carried out such as checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). DBS checks provide information including details about convictions and cautions held on the Police National Computer. The information helps employers make safer recruitment decisions.

Staff told us there were sufficient of them to meet people’s needs in a timely manner and that staffing levels were well considered and co-ordinated. One member of staff told us, “We are fully staffed in all departments and all employees are working together to ensure residents needs are met. We are completing dependency assessments each time a new resident is being admitted to Hillside to ensure we are providing appropriate amount of care staff.” Another member of staff commented, “Staffing levels at Hillside are good. If sickness arises and the shift is unable to be covered (doesn't happen often) then the staff on shift work harder to make sure the residents receive the care they need. Staff work well as a team and pull together in times of need. Phone calls are made to cover shifts and a message is sent out on the Hillside group chat. There is generally no negative impact on people.”

We did not look at Infection prevention and control during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Medicines optimisation during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.