Background to this inspection
Updated
18 April 2019
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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team:
The inspection team consisted of an inspector and an expert 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. Our expert by experience’s area of expertise was the care of older people.
Service and service type:
Highfields Care 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.
Notice of inspection:
This inspection was unannounced and took place on 27 February 2019.
What we did:
Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. The provider returned the PIR and we took this into account when we made judgements in this report.
We reviewed other information that we held about the service such as notifications. These are events that happen in the service that the provider is required to tell us about. We also considered the last inspection report and information that had been sent to us by other agencies.
During the inspection we spoke with eight people using this service and five relatives. We observed staff interacting with people, providing care and activities. We also spoke with the registered manager, deputy manager, receptionist, a nurse, a senior care worker, a care worker, and an activities co-ordinator.
We looked at two people’s care records. We also looked at other records relating to the management of the service including staffing, quality assurance, and accidents/incidents.
Updated
18 April 2019
About the service:
Highfields Care Home is owned and managed by Highfields Care Home Limited. It is situated in the village of Edingley in Nottinghamshire and offers accommodation for to up to 49 older people. On the day of our inspection there were 37 people using the service.
People’s experience of using this service:
¿ People and relatives said Highfields Care Home provided safe, personalised care. A person said, “Nothing is too much trouble for the staff who look after me beautifully. Everything about this home is good.”
¿ Staff knew each person well, including their likes and dislikes, their preferences, how they wanted to be supported. A relative said, “The carers put [person’s] makeup and jewellery on, it’s a little thing that means a lot.”
¿ Staff continually interacted with people and relatives. They greeted each person and relative with a smile and ask them how they were. Their friendly and inclusive approach contributed to the welcoming atmosphere in the home.
¿ People felt they had a purpose at the home. For example, a person was responsible for feeding the birds and sweeping up leaves, as they had done when they were in their own home. Another person had befriended a less able person and enjoyed helping to support them.
¿ Staff encouraged people to be creative. The registered manager said there was evidence this could improve the quality of people’s lives in their later years. An activities co-ordinator said, “Coming in to the home is the beginning of a new chapter for people and we want to look after their mind, body and soul.”
¿ The home was spacious and accessible throughout to people with limited mobility. There were a range of communal areas including a quiet lounge where people and relatives could meet in private.
¿ The registered manager involved people when improvements were made to the home. For example, the home had a new sensory garden which was designed in conjunction with the people using the service to meet their needs.
¿ The registered manager was kind, caring and efficient. People and relatives spoke highly of her and said she was approachable and helpful. Staff said she gave them excellent support and guidance. A staff member said, “She is always there for all of us, residents, relatives and staff, and wants the home to be the best it can be.”
Rating at last inspection: Good (report published 23 July 2016).`
Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection. The service remained rated Good overall.
Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.