11 August 2015
During a routine inspection
This inspection took place on 11 August 2015 and was unannounced. At our last inspection in April 2015 the service was not meeting the standard in relation to the safe management of medicines. At this inspection we found that the service was now meeting this standard.
The Hollies is a care home for older adults. The maximum number of people they can accommodate is 19. On the day of the inspection there were 19 people residing at the home.
There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People told us they felt safe at the home and safe with the staff who supported them. They told us that staff were patient, kind and respectful. They said they were satisfied with the numbers of staff and that they didn’t have to wait too long for assistance.
People were positive about the staff and staff had the knowledge and skills necessary to support them properly. People told us that the service was responsive to their needs and preferences.
The registered manager and staff at the home had identified and highlighted potential risks to people’s safety and had thought about and recorded how these risks could be reduced.
Staff understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and told us they would presume a person could make their own decisions about their care and treatment in the first instance. Staff told us it was not right to make choices for people when they could make choices for themselves.
Food looked and smelt appetising and staff were aware of any special diets people required either as a result of a clinical need or a cultural preference.
There were systems in place to ensure medicines were handled and stored securely and administered to people safely and appropriately.
People had good access to healthcare professionals such as doctors, dentists, chiropodists and opticians and any changes to people’s needs were responded to appropriately and quickly.
People told us staff listened to them and respected their choices and decisions.
People using the service and staff were positive about the registered manager. They confirmed that they were asked about the quality of the service and had made comments about this.
People felt the management took their views into account in order to improve service delivery.