A watchdog has ordered a care home to improve for the fourth consecutive time following a recent inspection. Hilltop Court, in Heaton Norris, Stockport, provides personal and nursing care to up to 50 older people, some of whom live with dementia.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has previously raised concerns over residents safety, while inspectors have also described the Dodge Hill home as ‘institutionalised’ and ‘clinical’. Officials found that some progress had been made when they returned in December, but discoved breaches in care regulations meaing it was again rated as ‘requires improvement’.
A new report notes that leadership and management at the home remained ‘inconsistent’. “Leaders and the culture they created did not always support the delivery of high-quality, person-centred care,” it reads.
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“At our last inspection the provider had failed to maintain full oversight of the operations of the home. Not enough improvement had been made at this inspection and the provider was still in breach of [care regulations].”
The report notes that existing systems still fail to identify ‘the ongoing shortfalls’ officials found throughout the inspection.
“For example, oral care had been a focus of improvement, but we found examples when needs were not being met,” it adds. “Medicines management had improved in some areas, however accurate record keeping and care planning remained areas needing further improvement.”
Systems were also said not to be robust enough to mitigate risks to the health, safety and welfare of people using the service. And this, officials reported, placed people’ at risk of harm’ and was a continued breach of care regulations.
While the provider had introduced new systems to monitor quality, inspectors said it was too early for ‘sustained improvements to be demonstrated’.
Inspectors also said that people were not always supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives.
“Staff did not always support them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests,” the report adds.
On a more positive note, however, inspectors ‘did observe positive and caring interactions’ between staff and people living at the home. “Care workers sought consent before providing care and demonstrated an understanding of people's preferences,” the report notes.
It continues: “The communication needs of people were clearly documented, and people had access to appropriate healthcare services. Checks were in place to ensure people lived in a safe environment.”
Ongoing refurbishment and redecoration of the home was also planned, while appropriate checks on staff were in place to ensure they were suitable for the role before working with people. Inspectors also found that staffing levels were safely planned and people were protected from the risk of abuse.
Harbour Healthcare did not respond to a request for comment.
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