HOSPICECARE

Updated 16 November 2023

This service has never been inspected by the Care Quality Commission.

The service is a community-based provider. The staff provides additional nursing caring for end-of-life NHS (National Health Service) patients in their own homes.

The service has with an administrative office base in Alnwick, Northumberland.

The hospice receives notifications from a broker on behalf of a local NHS hospital trust and other health care organisations including, general practitioners, district nurses, health care professionals, palliative care service and social services of patients requiring palliative care at home. The notifications are assessed to decide if the service would take the patient into their care or not based upon the services` patient eligibility criteria.

At the time of the inspection the service was caring for one patient.

The catchment area for patients covered Northumberland and parts of Tyne and Wear.

At the time of the inspection there was an application process underway for the interim registered manager to be registered with the Care Quality Commission. They are also the registered manager for another hospice.

Both the nominated individual/ Chief Executive Officer (NI) and interim Registered Manager (RM) worked for another hospice. The NI worked 3 days at that hospice and 2 days at The North Northumberland Hospice. The RM worked 2 days at each. Both had flexibility to operate between organisations as and when required.

The service used bank staff. The service had 7 Registered General Nurses (RGN) nurses, 6 were bank staff and 1 who was also bank staff had a 26.5hr contract weekly contract.

Also, the service has 16 Home Care Support workers, 15 were bank staff, and 1 who was also bank staff had a 22.5hr contract.

Updated 16 November 2023

This service had never been inspected and rated by CQC (Care Quality Commission). Following this inspection, we rated it as good because:

• The service had robust governance process in place to support the delivery of a safe effective service.
• The service maintained comprehensive high quality staff files.
• Robust systems to monitor staff training were in place, which ensured high levels of training compliance.
• Patient risk assessments were recorded and reviewed.
• Patient records were comprehensive, and all staff could access them easily.
• Multidisciplinary meetings held across several areas within Northumberland had representation from HOSPICECARE nursing staff.
• The service had a clear vision for the future with a strategy to deliver it.

Updated 16 November 2023

This service had never been inspected and rated by CQC. Following this inspection, we rated the service as good because:

• The service had enough staff to care for patients and keep them safe. Staff had training in key skills, understood how to protect patients from abuse, and managed safety well. Staff assessed risks to patients, acted on them and kept good quality care records.
• Staff provided good care and treatment, checked that patients ate and drank enough, and gave them pain relief when they needed it. Managers monitored the effectiveness of the service and made sure staff were competent.
• Staff worked well together for the benefit of patients, supported them to make decisions about their care.
• Staff had access to good information including the patients’ medical history, where to seek advice and the wishes of the patients and families regarding their preferred place of death.
• Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, took account of their individual needs, and helped them understand their conditions. They provided emotional support to patients, families, and carers.
• Leaders ran services well using reliable information systems and they supported staff to develop their skills. Staff understood the service’s vision and values, and how to apply them in their work.
• Staff felt respected, supported, and valued. They were focused on the needs of patients receiving care. Staff were clear about their roles and accountabilities.

We rated this service as good because it was safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well led.