Heathfield Residential Home

Updated 4 March 2023

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. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was completed by 1 inspector.

Service and service type

Heathfield Residential Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Heathfield Residential Home is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 4 people who used the service and 2 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 6 members of staff including the registered manager, quality compliance manager, operations director, carer, senior carer and activities co-ordinator.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 6 care plans, medication and safety records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision.

Updated 4 March 2023

About the service

Heathfield Residential Home is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to up to 35 older people in a large adapted building. At the time of our inspection there were 32 people using the service.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People told us they felt safe living at the service. Potential risks to people’s health and welfare had been assessed, there were risk assessments and guidance for staff in place to mitigate the risk. Accidents and incidents had been recorded and analysed to identify any patterns or trends and to assess if action taken had been effective. Checks had been completed on the environment and equipment people used to make sure people were as safe as possible.

People were supported by staff who had been recruited safely. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs, staff had received training appropriate to their role and received supervision to develop their practice. There were effective systems in place to monitor the quality of the service. Action had been taken when shortfalls had been identified.

Medicines were managed safely. People were referred to healthcare professionals when their needs changed, and staff followed the guidance provided. People were supported to express their end of life wishes, staff worked with healthcare professionals to support people at the end of their lives.

People were supported to eat and drink a balanced diet to stay as healthy as possible. People were supported to be as independent as possible. Staff supported people to take part in activities they enjoyed, spend time with their relatives and take trips out.

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. People were treated with kindness and compassion and encouraged to be as independent as possible.

There were systems in place to protect people from abuse and discrimination. People, relatives and staff were asked for their opinions of the service and action was taken to make improvements. Complaints were recorded and investigated. The registered manager had apologised when things had gone wrong.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 15 July 2021). The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service showing the service may have improved.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.