We inspected Springhill Hospice on the 16 and 17 August 2016. The first day of the inspection was unannounced. We last inspected Springhill Hospice on 15 October 2013 where we found all the regulations that we looked at had been complied with.

Springhill Hospice is a charitable organisation that provides a range of hospice services for adults with a life-limiting illness. The hospice is purpose built and provides accommodation on the Inpatient Ward for up to 16 people. The hospice also has a Specialist Palliative Care Community Service, a Day Hospice, and a Hospice at Home service. In addition the hospice offers a 24 hour telephone advice line for professionals, people who use the service and their families. The hospice is close to public transport routes and is situated in a residential area of Rochdale, not too far from the town centre. It is set in large well-maintained gardens with adequate parking and clearly defined parking areas for disabled visitors. Services are free to people, with Springhill Hospice receiving some NHS funding and the remaining funds achieved through fundraising and charitable donations.

There were 16 people being cared for in the Inpatient Ward during our inspection, 16 people in the Day Hospice and approximately 240 people in the community.

The hospice had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) who was present during the inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with CQC to manage the service. Like registered providers they are 'registered persons'. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated regulations about how the service is run.

We found there was one breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. Medicines were not always given as prescribed, appropriate systems were not in place for the management of medicines requiring refrigeration and relevant information to enable staff to administer ‘when required’ medicine safely was not in place. You can see what action we have told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.

The expressions of gratitude relayed to us demonstrated that people were cared for with the utmost compassion, kindness, dignity and respect. People spoke highly of the kindness and caring attitude of the staff. People told us they received the care they needed when they needed it and that staff were knowledgeable and committed. Visitors were made welcome and the staff recognised and considered the importance of caring for the needs of family members and friends.

People were supported at the end of their life to have a comfortable, dignified and pain-free death. The nursing and medical staff showed they were highly skilled in pain and symptom control. Staff were passionate about the need to spread awareness and knowledge of end of life care by introducing an innovative and creative programme of training for staff caring for people in care homes.

We found that people received outstanding care. People's privacy was respected and people were assisted in a way that respected their dignity. We observed respectful, kindly and caring interactions between the staff, the people who used the service and visitors. People looked well cared for and there was enough equipment available to ensure people's safety, comfort and independence were protected.

The way that the hospice staff worked in partnership with other organisations was outstandingly effective. The staff were passionate about the need to spread awareness and share their knowledge of end of life care with other services that were involved in supporting people in the community.

We saw how the cultural and religious needs of all faiths was considered and respected. Staff told us they strived to ensure that people’s spiritual needs were met. There was a Spiritual and Pastoral Care Co-ordinator who was available to spend time with people in t

During our visit we spoke with two patients and asked them to tell us how they felt they were being cared for. They told us, “The staff are brilliant” and “Very kind, very caring and they are looking after me very well”.

Arrangements were in place to help ensure patients were treated in a respectful, dignified way and were involved in the making of decisions about their care, support and treatment.

Patients' care records contained enough information to show how they were to be supported and cared for.

The patients were provided with a choice of suitable and nutritious food and hydration to ensure their nutritional needs were met.

Arrangements were in place to ensure the patients were cared for by skilled and experienced staff that were safely recruited.

Patients were cared for by staff that were properly trained, supported and supervised.

We spoke with one person who used the service and the relative of another person who used the service. They told us they were very happy with the services provided and that the staff were very caring, professional and helpful. They also told us the staff were available when they needed them.

The people we spoke with told us that they had no concerns about the care they received. They told us that if they had any concerns or complaints, they would speak to the senior staff on duty.