We carried out a review of the data available to us about Hill View on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Hill View, you can give feedback on this service.
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent. They were encouraged to take part in daily living tasks with support from staff in areas such as laundry and cleaning.
People received support from staff who knew them very well as individuals. People’s care and support needs were assessed and reviewed regularly. This enabled them to receive care that was person-centred and reflected their needs and choices.
Staff supported people to take part in choosing activities to meet their individual needs and wishes. Some people loved train and bus rides. Others liked swimming, bowling and cinema trips. Staff ensured people had regular opportunities to use cafes and restaurants and to visit the bandstand at Eastbourne. Annual holidays were organised.
People were protected from the risks of harm, abuse or discrimination. Staff knew what actions to take if they identified concerns. The home was clean and tidy throughout. Enhanced cleaning had been instigated as a result of coronavirus and staff were thorough in relation to ensuring their own and people’s hands were kept clean. There were enough staff working to provide the support people needed, at times of their choice. Recruitment procedures ensured only suitable staff worked at the service.
In the absence of the registered manager who was on special leave at the time of inspection, there were good systems to ensure oversight of the service. Two registered managers from other services took it turn to provide cover and to share the role. Quality assurance systems were comprehensive and ensured all aspects of the running of the home were examined regularly, records were kept up to date and any actions resulting from audits were addressed swiftly.
Staff understood the risks associated with the people they supported. Risk assessments provided further guidance for staff about individual and environmental risks. People were supported to receive their medicines safely.
Staff received training that helped them to deliver the care and support people needed. This included specialist training in autism, epilepsy and person-centred active support. Staff attended regular supervision meetings and told us they were very well supported by the registered managers.
People's health and well-being needs were met. Where appropriate, staff supported people to attend health appointments, such as the GP or dentist, and appointments for specialist advice and support. People’s nutritional needs were assessed, and specialist diets were catered for. Menus were varied and well balanced.
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. There was a detailed complaint procedure, and this was displayed so anyone wanting to raise a concern could do so.
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 4 September 2017).
The overall rating for the service has remained Good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
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.
There was a registered manager in post. 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.
This comprehensive unannounced inspection took place on 20 and 23 June 2017.
At the last inspection we found some areas of practice that required improvement. For example, we observed some practices were not always caring. At this inspection observed a caring approach. Staff talked and communicated with people in a way they could understand. They had a very good rapport with them and people responded very warmly to staff.
At the last inspection we found improvements were needed in relation to some documentation for example in relation to satisfaction surveys and in relation to people’s records. At this inspection we found significant progress had been made in relation to record keeping. However, there were some areas where further development was needed and we made a recommendation about monitoring documentation.
Staff had a very good understanding of people as individuals, their needs and interests. Some people attended day centres and people were also supported with daily activities both within and outside of the home. Staff supported people in a way that suited them. Staff were kind and caring in their approach and spoke with people in a way people could understand. People were supported to take an annual holiday.
The registered manager and staff had a good understanding of their responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). The MCA and DoLS are regulations that have to be followed to ensure people who cannot make decisions for themselves are protected. They also ensured people were not having their freedom restricted or deprived unnecessarily.
There were enough staff who had been appropriately recruited, to meet people’s needs. Staff had a good understanding of the risks associated with supporting people. They knew what actions to take to mitigate these risks and provide a safe environment for people to live. Staff understood what they needed to do to protect people from the risk of abuse.
Staff attended regular supervision meetings and told us they were very well supported by the management of the home. Staff meetings were used to ensure staff were kept up to date on the running of the home and to hear their views on day to day issues. Staff attended regular training to ensure they could meet people’s needs. There was a thorough induction to the service and staff felt confident to meet people’s needs before they worked independently.
People were supported to have healthy and nutritious diets that were varied and met their individual choices. They were also supported to attend healthcare appointments in line with their individual needs.
The provider had good systems to monitor the management and quality of the home and through regular internal monitoring the registered manager ensured a range of audits were carried out to monitor the care and support provided. Where shortfalls had been identified they were addressed in a timely manner.
There was a registered manager in post. 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.
This comprehensive unannounced inspection took place on 17 and 18 March 2016.
Although we observed some very caring practices there were also times when some of the practices observed were not always caring or dignified. For example, one staff member assisted two people with their meal at the same time.
Although there were enough staff on shift, there were times when staff were out supporting people, which left fewer staff to support people at home.
The registered manager and staff had completed training on the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. They had assessed that some restrictions were required to keep people safe for example, the use of bed rails and lap straps on wheelchairs. Where this was the case referrals had been made to the local authority for authorisations.
Staff had a good understanding of the risks associated with supporting people. They knew what actions to take to mitigate these risks and provide a safe environment for people to live. They understood what they needed to do to protect people from the risk of abuse. Appropriate checks had taken place before staff were employed to ensure they were able to work safely with people at the home.
Staff had a good understanding of people as individuals, their needs and interests. Each person had the opportunity to go out most days. A ‘You said, we did’ board was used to demonstrate that when people made choices about activities, arrangements were then made for these to happen.
People had access to healthcare professionals when they needed it. This included GP’s, dentists, speech and language therapists and community nurses. Communication passports were used to ensure that anyone supporting people could communicate effectively with them. They helped to identify the subtle ways that people indicated their choices and made their needs known.
People were asked for their permission before staff assisted them with care or support. Staff had the skills and knowledge necessary to provide people with safe and effective care. Staff received regular support from management which made them feel supported and valued.
Hill View was very homely and the decoration had been carried out to reflect the tastes and personalities of people living there. For example a transport theme was used in the entrance hall to reflect that two people particularly loved trains. A visiting professional told us, “the service users are happy, I’m very impressed with the informal homely environment.” A relative told us that they particularly valued the support provided by their relative’s keyworker.
The registered manager was approachable and supportive and took an active role in the day to day running of the service. Staff were able to discuss concerns with them at any time and know they would be addressed appropriately. Staff and people spoke positively about the way the service was managed and the open style of management.
When we spoke with visitors in the home, we were told: "there is so much to do" and "The staff are so welcoming".
We found people's nutritional needs were being met and supported.
Staff were only employed following a structured recruitment and interview process and relevant checks were carried out prior to them starting work.
We found that newly developed comprehensive and well maintained person centred support plans enabled care workers to meet people's assessed needs in a structured and consistent manner.
Risk assessments and safeguarding policies and procedures ensured that people using the service were safe.
Communication and consultation with people's family members was effective and ongoing. Relatives felt well informed and had the opportunity to partake in individual assessment, care planning and reviewing processes.
Positive comments received from people using the service and their relatives indicated a high level of satisfaction with the home and the services provided:
'I like it here, the staff are very good and I get on with everyone'.
'I've been very satisfied with the home and the care that my son receives and I've no complaints at all. It's a lovely home and my son is very happy there'.