Hillcrest

South Road, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 2NZ

01665604464

Care Type

Nursing Care

Inspection date

8 November 2019

Provider

Malhotra Care Homes Limited

Beds

50 beds

About Hillcrest

Hillcrest is a nursing home in Northumberland, providing nursing and personal care to older people. Details from the most recent CQC inspection are set out below.

Hillcrest provides nursing and personal care for up to 52 older people, with 45 residents at the time of inspection. The home accommodates people across two floors, with those living with dementia-related conditions on the ground floor. Residents expressed satisfaction with their care, describing staff as "very caring" and "really, really good," with one person stating, "I trust everybody.

" They indicated they would recommend the home to others.

The home maintains systems and procedures to keep people safe, with medicines managed appropriately and sufficient staffing levels deployed. The registered manager had recently introduced a new system to improve organisation and communication in the nursing unit, where staff appeared busier. Risks are assessed and monitored through a positive approach that balances safety with people's independence and freedom.

Source: CQC inspection report, 28 November 2019

Specialist Care

DementiaOlder peoplePhysical disabilitiesSensory impairments

Fees and availability

We have not verified a current weekly fee for this home. Ask for a written quote based on the room and care needed, including any extra charges.

Check current vacancies, the admission assessment and visiting arrangements directly with the home.

Care and inspection details

Checked against the CQC register on 20 September 2026. This is a check of published information, not a visit to the home.

Registered service: Care home service with nursing
Registered capacity: 50 places — this is not a vacancy count
Registration checked: Registered · NE66 2NZ

Registered care categories

Caring for adults over 65 yrs; Dementia; Physical disabilities; Sensory impairment.

These describe the registration. The home must assess whether it can meet the individual person's needs and whether a place is available.

CQC ratings in more detail

Overall rating shown by CQC: Good.

Rating report published 28 November 2019. Latest inspection date recorded: 8 November 2019.

Safe: Good
Effective: Good
Caring: Good
Responsive: Good
Well-led: Good

Read Hillcrest's CQC record and reports.

Contains Care Quality Commission information under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Ratings and registration details can change after the date checked.

5 Questions to Ask on Your Visit

When visiting Hillcrest, consider asking...

1.What specific dementia training do staff receive and how recently?
2.How do you support a resident who becomes distressed or confused?
3.How does the home keep a record of a resident's life history and personal preferences?
4.How do you involve families as dementia progresses and communication becomes harder?
5.What happens when a resident's dementia reaches an advanced stage?

5 Things to Look For on Your Visit

When you visit Hillcrest, look out for...

1.Is the environment calm, uncluttered and easy to navigate?
2.Do staff speak to residents with patience and dignity, even if they repeat themselves?
3.Are there memory cues around the home -- photos, familiar objects, clear signage?
4.Do residents seem settled and safe, or agitated and unsupervised?
5.Is there meaningful activity happening, or are residents just sitting quietly with nothing to do?

Could the NHS fund Hillcrest's fees?

The average nursing home costs £1,535 per week. That's £79,820 a year. NHS Continuing Healthcare could cover all of it. No means test, no contribution from you.

Find out if the NHS could fund these fees