The inspection visit at Hillcroft House Galgate took place on 05 January 2017 and was unannounced.Hillcroft House is one of six homes in the Hillcroft group. It is located in the village of Galgate, south of Lancaster. The home has two floors and staff worked on both floors as part of their rota. It is registered to provide accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care, diagnostic and screening procedures, and treatment of disease, disorder or injury.
The building is a large stone build house adapted and extended for use as a nursing home. Hillcroft House Galgate can support a maximum of 30 people. At the time of our inspection, 28 people were living at the home.
The service had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
At the last inspection on 08 August 2014, we found the provider was meeting the requirements of the regulations that were inspected. However, it was identified staffing levels on the first floor required improvement to keep people safe. Since our last inspection, staffing levels were reviewed and increased.
During this inspection, we found staffing levels were regularly reviewed to ensure people were safe. There was an appropriate skill mix of staff to ensure the needs of people who lived at the home were met.
Staff received training related to their role and were knowledgeable about their responsibilities. They had the skills, knowledge and experience required to support people with their care and support needs.
Staff had received abuse training and understood their responsibilities to report any unsafe care or abusive practices related to the safeguarding of vulnerable adults. Staff we spoke with told us they were aware of the safeguarding procedure.
The provider had ensured risks to individuals had been assessed and measures put in place to minimise such risks. A comprehensive plan was in place in case of emergencies which included detail about how each person should be supported in the event of an evacuation.
The provider had recruitment and selection procedures to minimise the risk of inappropriate employees working with vulnerable people. Checks had been completed prior to any staff commencing work at Hillcroft House. This was confirmed from discussions with staff.
Staff responsible for administering medicines were trained to ensure they were competent and had the required skills. There were appropriate arrangements for storing medicines safely.
People and their representatives told us they were involved in their care and had discussed and consented to their care. We found staff had an understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).
People who were able to speak with us told us they were happy with the variety and choice of meals available to them. We saw regular snacks and drinks were provided between meals to ensure people received adequate nutrition and hydration.
We found people had access to healthcare professionals and their healthcare needs were met. We saw the management team had liaised with healthcare providers and responded promptly when people had experienced health problems.
We saw the registered manager had ensured end of life care was person centred and sensitively delivered. Relatives were welcomed and supported when they visited their loved ones.
A complaints procedure was available and people we spoke with said they knew how to complain. People and staff spoken with felt the registered manager was accessible, supportive and approachable.
Comments we received demonstrated people were satisfied with their care. The management and staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities. They were committed to providing a good standard of care and support to people who lived at the home.
Care plans were organised and identified the care and support people required. We found they were informative about care people had received. They had been kept under review and updated when necessary to reflect people’s changing needs.
People told us they were happy with the activities organised at Hillcroft House. People told us they were happy to have the choice to participate or refuse to take part in activities. The activities were arranged for individuals and for groups.
The registered manager had sought feedback from people who lived at the home and staff. They had consulted with people and their relatives for input on how they could continually improve. The provider had regularly completed a range of audits to maintain people’s safety and welfare.