Archived: Highfield

Updated 1 October 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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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

The inspection was carried out by one inspector and two Experts by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Highfield 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. Highfield is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage the service. 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. The service had a manager registered with the CQC.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we received about the service since the last inspection. This included details about incidents the provider must notify us about, such as serious injuries. We sought feedback from the local authority who did not have any concerns about the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with seven people who used the service and 13 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We observed multiple interactions between people and staff throughout the day. We spoke with eight members of staff including the registered manager, support manager, nurses, care workers, admin and maintenance. We reviewed a range of records including six peoples’ care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff recruitment files. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed including health and safety checks, meeting notes, training records, audits and the home development plan.

Updated 1 October 2022

About the service

Highfield is a residential care home providing accommodation with personal and nursing care for up to 34 people. The home was arranged across two floors with lift access to the upper floor. The service provides support to people with a range of needs, including people with physical disabilities and people living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 24 people living in the service.

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

The service did not always deploy enough staff to fully meet peoples’ support needs. There were not always enough staff to support people in a timely manner who needed assistance with their meals. Activities were limited due to staffing levels and there was a lack of social engagement with people.

People told us they felt safe living in Highfield and people received safe care and treatment from staff who knew them well. Medicines and infection control were both managed safely, and lessons were learned when things went wrong. People were protected from the risk of abuse by well trained staff.

People were involved in decisions about their care and they received care which promoted their dignity and encouraged independence. Relatives told us they were involved in their relative’s care plans and were kept up to date with changes, either in the service or with their relative’s care or health.

Effective quality assurance processes were in place to monitor the service and regular audits were undertaken. Staff had received appropriate training. A new registered manager had been appointed since our last inspection. People, relatives and staff all told us they found them approachable and supportive with an open-door policy.

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.

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 15 January 2019).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe, effective and well led. For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

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.

The overall rating for the service has not changed following this focused inspection and remains good.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Highfield on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.