Background to this inspection
Updated
13 November 2020
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place. As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are conducting a review of infection control and prevention measures in care homes.
The service had been identified as having several people tested positive for Covid-19. This inspection was to ensure that the service was compliant with infection control and prevention measures.
This inspection took place on 28 October 2020 and was unannounced.
Updated
13 November 2020
About the service
Hillcroft Galgate is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to 36 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 43 people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
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. The provider was in the process of reviewing how their documentation reflected how they supported people effectively with decision making in line with law and guidance. Staff had received training and were knowledgeable about the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
People told us they felt safe and they received their medicines on time. Staff told us they knew how to manage risks effectively and identify signs and symptoms of abuse and who to report concerns to. The registered manager had robust recruitment procedures and staffing levels delivered responsive support to people. The home was well maintained, clean and staff had access to protective equipment to protect people from the risk of infections.
People received regular review of their care needs. Staff received training at the start and throughout their employment to ensure they had the skills to provide effective care. Staff felt very supported by the manager and management team. One staff member commented, “I love [registered manager] she genuinely cares about the residents and cares about the staff.” People told us food and drinks were of a good quality and plentiful. We saw the provider worked with community health professionals to ensure people received effective care.
People told us staff treated them with dignity and were respectful. Our observations supported these views. One person told us, “[Staff] they’re just like friends really, I love them.” We saw lots of positive interactions between people and staff, no one was rushed, and activities were person centred. One person told us, “Staff are fantastic, very caring and kind. You can’t fault the staff here they give 100%.”
Care plans contained personalised information on people’s health and communication needs plus their likes and dislikes. Activities were available for people to participate in if they wished. There was a complaints policy that supported positive engagement and timely action. The registered manager was passionate about ensuring they provided empathetic, compassionate person-centred end of life care.
The service was well led. People, staff and relatives spoke positively about the registered manager and management team. There was a positive culture throughout the service which focused on providing care that was individualised. The registered manager used a variety of methods to assess and monitor the quality of the service. They were aware of their regulatory responsibilities associated with their role.
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 01 February 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.