• Care Home
  • Care home

Halcyon Days

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

The Old Rectory, Church Lane, Graveley, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG4 7LU (01438) 362245

Provided and run by:
GCH (Hertfordshire) Ltd

Report from 29 January 2024 assessment

Ratings

  • Overall

    Good

  • Safe

    Good

  • Effective

    Good

  • Caring

    Good

  • Responsive

    Good

  • Well-led

    Requires improvement

Our view of the service

Halcyon Days provides accommodation and personal care for up to 57 people, some of whom live with dementia. We carried out an assessment of this service to look at safeguarding; involving people to manage risks; safe and effective staffing; equity in experiences and outcomes; and governance, management and sustainability. The assessment included a site visit on 06 February 2024 and concluded on 19 March 2024. We found systems were in place to ensure people received safe care and treatment. People were safeguarded from the risk of harm or abuse and felt safe living at Halcyon Days. People were supported by enough staff, although at peak times, staff organisation could be better managed. We observed occasions where staff could be more responsive, which we discussed with the provider who took action to make the necessary improvements. The provider had a quality assurance system in place to monitor the safety and quality of the service. Overall, the new management team demonstrated a commitment to continuous improvement and had been working to develop a more positive culture at the home since our previous inspection in February 2022.

People's experience of this service

People told us they felt safe living at the service. They knew how to raise any concerns they may have. People told us that they were involved in making decisions about how they wished to be supported. People told us staff overall were able to assist them when they needed. Relatives gave mixed views about staffing. Generally, people said they could choose how to spend their day, however one person and their relative commented that they didn’t know if they were only allowed to use their bedroom at certain times. Another person had written a note under their call bell saying only to use in an emergency. People confirmed they could have visitors when they wanted. People and relatives told us they had the access to healthcare professionals such as the GP or clinical teams such as the district nurse when needed. People looked clean and well cared for. Overall people knew the management team and they felt the service was well run.