Highgrove House

Updated 16 June 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 undertaken by 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.

Service and service type

Highgrove House 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. Highgrove House 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

During the inspection we spoke with 3 people that used the service and 7 relatives. We spoke with 10 members of staff including the registered manager and care staff.

We looked at a range of records including 3 sets of care plans and risk assessments, medicine records, and health and safety documents. We looked at 3 staff recruitment records, audits, rotas and policies and procedures.

Updated 16 June 2023

About the service

Highgrove House is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 43 people. The service supports older people and people who may be living with dementia or a physical disability. At the time of the inspection there were 40 people living at the home.

The home is set over 2 floors and has communal areas available for people to use. Visitors can access the garden and car parking.

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

We have made a recommendation about the management of some medicines. People were kept safe, and looked after by enough staff that knew people well. A relative said, “[My relative] is well looked after, the carers are brilliant.” Risks to people’s health, and environmental risks were assessed and monitored. The home was clean and comfortable. The registered manager monitored incidents to make sure any lessons were learned to improve outcomes for people.

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 supported by staff that received good levels of induction and training and people’s needs were assessed holistically. People spoke positively about the food and were supported to eat and drink healthily. People’s wider healthcare needs were met by external agencies when required.

We found a positive culture at Highgrove House and improvements had been made regarding the governance of the service. Staff kept in touch with people and their relatives, and relatives spoke highly of the support given. One relative said, “They ring me up straight away if anything happens, they are very caring.”

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 10 June 2022).

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

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.

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 28 April 2022. Breaches of legal requirements were found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve.

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions safe, effective and well-led which contain those requirements.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Highgrove House on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

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