Background to this inspection
Updated
18 September 2019
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by one inspector and one Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Service and service type
The Hollies is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with eight people who used the service and four relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four members of staff including the registered manager, and the regional manager. We also spoke to a visiting nurse and a visiting podiatrist.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We received feedback from two professionals who regularly visit the service.
Updated
18 September 2019
About the service
The Hollies is registered to care for people who need nursing or personal care but nursing care is not provided. It offers accommodation in one adapted building for up to 23 people with mental ill health. At the time of inspection 23 people were living in the home.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People had developed positive and friendly relationships with the staff and staff could tell us about people’s likes, dislikes, interests and the support they needed.
Care plans and risk assessments were person centred and they detailed how people wished and needed to be supported. People were supported to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced diet and were able to access other health care services when needed.
People were recruited safely. Staff received regular training, received supervisions, attended staff meetings and had regular practice checks.
Medication needs were assessed and medication was only given by staff who were trained to do so. Accidents, incidents, safeguarding and complaints were managed appropriately and monitored by the management.
The registered manager and provider had internal and external audits in place and accessed other sources of information to review and improve practice. People were able to give their opinions on their care service and a range of communication methods were in place to ensure people continued to have this opportunity. There were ‘easy read’ or pictoral documents in place.
Policies and procedures were in place and updated, such as safeguarding, complaints, medication and other health and safety topics. infection control standards were monitored and managed appropriately.
There was an infection control policy in place to minimise the spread of infection. There was also a series of health and safety checks in place to ensure the building was safe. The home was clean, however we saw there were areas that were in need of refurbishment. The registered manager had already identified and actioned this.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
The registered manager and staff regularly worked with other professionals to ensure the best outcomes for people living in the home.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection - The last rating for this service was Good (published 07 March 2017)
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for The Hollies on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.