- Care home
Heaton House Care Home
Report from 30 December 2024 assessment
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of assessment: 14 to 29 January 2025. Heaton House Care Home is a residential care home, registered to support up to 21 older people, including those living with dementia. The assessment included 3 site visits, with additional information and evidence reviewed remotely. We have rated this service requires improvement. The assessment was completed to check if improvements had been made following our previous assessment in September 2024, where we identified 4 breaches of legal regulations. At this assessment we found continued breaches of legal regulations relating to good governance. Medicines were not managed safely. Governance processes had not identified all issues we identified, audits required adapting to ensure they were fully effective, and record keeping was not always contemporaneous or accurate. The provider was previously in breach of legal regulations relating to safe care and treatment, premises and equipment and staffing. Improvements were found at this assessment and the provider was no longer in breach of these regulations. As issues with medicines were largely related to record keeping, they now fall under good governance, rather than safe care and treatment. Risks relating to the environment had been adequately assessed and mitigated. Staff received sufficient training, support and supervision, to ensure they could carry out their roles safely and effectively. Improvements had been made with activity provision, seeking people’s views and involving them in their care. The provider was also now formally assessing how many staff were needed to meet people’s needs safely, which had resulted in an increase in staffing levels. We received positive feedback about the current home manager and the work they had done to make improvements. In instances where CQC have decided to take civil or criminal enforcement action against a provider, we will publish this information on our website after any representations and/ or appeals have been concluded.
People's experience of this service
People and relatives were complimentary about the care and support and the staff who provided this. Comments included, “I feel happy and safe here” and “I've had no problems. The staff are always obliging and kind” and “I'm happy with everything… it is kind and caring here and my [relative] seems to like it.” Staff were described as kind and considerate, and those who had worked at the service for some time had developed positive relationships with people. Newer staff were actively getting to know people’s likes, dislikes and needs. People felt safe living at the home and happy to raise concerns with staff or management.
During the assessment site visits we observed staff showing kindness and patience with people. There was a pleasant atmosphere within communal areas throughout the day with some good interactions and conversation noted. We did find the communal lounges and dining room were often left unobserved by staff, whilst they supported people in their rooms. This was also commented on by some of the people and relatives we spoke with. However, people confirmed staff responded promptly to requests for support.
Activity provision had improved, which was welcomed by people and relatives, with positive feedback provided, especially regarding the weekly exercise class and therapy dog visit.