The CQC (Care Quality Commission) has inspected St. Joseph’s Hospice in Merseyside and has found it to be a Good hospice.
In its latest inspection, which was carried out between 7th and 9th August 2018, the CQC found the hospice to be “effective, caring, responsive and well-led”.
The hospice, which has now jumped up two ratings in just one year, was found to have “systematically improved in quality and performance”.
Inspectors also praised the hospice, and its senior management team, for sustaining the improvements seen at its previous inspection in December 2017 and noted that it has “continued to improve how medicines are given and recorded”.
The CQC inspected the hospice using its comprehensive inspection methodology which inspects five key areas – whether services are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.
During the three-day visit, which was unannounced, inspectors found that staff “cared for their patients with compassion” and “provided emotional support to patients and their relatives to minimise their distress”. Patients and relatives also confirmed that the “staff treat them well and with kindness” and that “the staff involved patients and those close to them in decisions about their care and treatment”.
Inspectors comments that the hospice “controlled infection risk well” and “kept the premises and equipment clean”. According to inspectors, the hospice nursing and care staff have “the right qualifications, skill, training and experience to keep people safe and provide the right care and treatment”. Detailed records of patient care and treatment are also kept “clear and up to date”.
Hospice managers were found to “monitor the effectiveness of care and treatment” and “use the findings to improve them”. It was clear to the inspectors that the hospice made sure that staff were “competent for their roles” and that managers “appraised all staff work and performance”. They also noted that “staff of different kinds worked together as a team to benefit patients”.
Managers at all levels were found to have the “right skills and abilities to run a high-quality, sustainable service” and that they “promoted a positive culture that supported and valued staff”.
Staff told inspectors that they believed the culture to be “open and transparent” with “positive relationships between staff and managers”.
Inspectors found the hospice to be responsive in that it “plans and provides services in a way that meets the needs of local people” and that it “takes account of people’s individual needs” with care plans that are “comprehensive and person-centred”.
Mike Parr, Chief Executive of St. Joseph’s Hospice, said: “I have never been in any doubt that St. Joseph’s Hospice is a Good hospice and the majority of our patients and families would agree with that. However, it is wonderful and really important that the CQC has also recognised this.
“We have built a fantastic team here and I am very proud of everyone who works at the hospice as this is a result of everyone’s hard work and dedication over the last two years. We should all feel incredibly privileged to work here.
“This rating comes at a brilliant time, just as we are looking to expand and develop the services that we offer. We cover a very large geographical area and we want to reach out and support more people who would benefit from high quality end of life care and support services.
“We would like to thank all our patients, families and supporters who have stood by us over the last year. We quite simply couldn’t have achieved this without all of them.”