Hillcroft Nursing Home Slyne

Updated 8 February 2022

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.

As part of CQC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 25 January 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection.

Updated 8 February 2022

The inspection visit took place on 16 and 17 April 2018. The first day of the inspection was unannounced.

Hillcroft Slyne Nursing Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Hillcroft Slyne Nursing Home is situated in the parish of Slyne-with-Hest close to the city of Lancaster. It provides accommodation for up to 48 people in three ground floor units, supporting people with general nursing needs, dementia and complex behaviour that may be challenging. At the time of our inspection 46 people lived at Hillcroft Slyne Nursing Home.

There was a registered manager employed at Hillcroft Slyne Nursing Home. 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 17 April 2017 we asked the registered provider to take action to make improvements around the auditing of records related to the application of topical creams, and this action has been completed.

At the last inspection, there was a breach of Regulation 12 HSCA RA Regulations 2014 (Safe care and treatment). Staff did not always follow policies and procedures on the administration of medicines. We asked the registered provider to complete an action plan to show what they would do and by when to improve the key questions of Safe and Well – led to at least Good.

At this inspection we found the registered provider continued to provide a good standard of care to people who lived at the home.

We observed medicines administration and reviewed documentation around the administration and management of medicines. We looked at documentation related to the application and recording of topical creams. We found medicine protocols were followed correctly by staff trained to administer medicines. Documentation we viewed guided staff clearly on where to apply prescribed creams. We did not find any missed signatures within medicine and topical cream recording charts which indicated people had received appropriate treatment in accordance with their care plan and clinical guidance.

People who lived at Hillcroft Slyne Nursing Home had care plans that reflected their complex needs and these had been regularly reviewed to ensure they were up to date. The care plans had information related to all areas of a person’s care needs. Staff were knowledgeable of people’s needs and we observed them helping people as directed within their care plans.

Relatives told us staff treated their family members as individuals and delivered personalised care that was centred on them as an individual. Care plans seen and observations during our visit confirmed this.

Staff delivered end of life care that promoted people’s preferred priorities of care.

The registered provider had refurbished the home to ensure people living with dementia were living in an environment that promoted their safety, independence and positive wellbeing.

We saw staff were responsive to each person’s changing needs. They worked together to ensure people who became agitated were offered a selection of person centred interventions to meet their needs and soothe their agitation.

There were systems to record safeguarding concerns, accidents and incidents and corrective action took place as required. The service carefully monitored and analysed such events to learn from them and improve the service.

Staff had received safeguarding training and understood their responsibilities to report unsafe care or abusive practices. The registered provider had reported incidents as required.

People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.

Staff we spoke with understood the importance of providing high standards of care and enabled people to lead meaningful lives. One relative told us, “They [staff] are very kind. I have watched them and they speak to people really nicely.”

We found there were sufficient numbers of staff during our inspection visit. They were effectively deployed, trained and able to deliver care in a compassionate and patient manner.

Staff we spoke with confirmed they did not start in post until the management team completed relevant checks. We checked staff records and noted employees received induction and ongoing training appropriate to their roles

Risk assessments had been developed to minimise the potential risk of harm to people during the delivery of their care. Care records showed they were reviewed and any changes had been recorded.

We looked around the building and found it had been refurbished, maintained, was clean and a safe place for people to live. We found equipment had been serviced and maintained as required.

Staff wore protective clothing such as gloves and aprons when needed. This reduced the risk of cross infection. We found supplies were available for staff to use when required, such as hand gels.

We observed lunch time and noted people had their meal at a table, where they sat or in their bedroom. One relative told us, “The meals are wonderful; my husband is always offered a choice.”

We observed only positive interactions between staff and people who lived at Hillcroft Slyne Nursing Home. There was a culture of promoting dignity and respect towards people. We saw staff took time and chatted with people as they performed moving and handling procedures in communal areas.

There was a complaints procedure which was made available to people and visible within the home. People we spoke with, and visiting relatives, told us they were happy and had no complaints.

The management team used a variety of methods to assess and monitor the quality of the service. These included regular audits, staff meetings and daily walks around the home to assess the environment.