Holt Farm Care Limited

Updated 9 April 2021

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are looking at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 12 March 2021 and was announced.

Updated 9 April 2021

This inspection took place on 30 January 2018 and was unannounced.

At the last inspection in February 2017, the service was rated 'Requires Improvement'. At this inspection we found that the service to be 'Good'. At our previous inspection, we had asked the provider to take action to make improvements and provide people with opportunities to engage in activities. At this inspection we checked to see if the provider had made the necessary improvements. We found that relevant improvements had been made.

The service provides care for up to six people with learning disabilities or mental health needs. At the time of the inspection there were five people living at the service. Holt Farm Care Limited is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The care service was registered prior to the publication of Registering the Right Support. All but one person have lived there for a number of years. The service reflects values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

A registered manager was in post at the time of our inspection. 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.

The registered manager had identified potential risks to each person and had put plans in place to support staff to reduce these risks.

Staff understood their responsibilities to protect people from harm. Staff were encouraged and supported to raise any concerns they may have.

Incidents and accidents were recorded and checked by the provider to see what steps could be taken to prevent these from happening again. Staff were trained in the safe management of people’s behaviours that cause harm to people themselves or others.

People were supported to take their medicines safely by suitably trained staff. Medication administration records (MAR) confirmed people had received their medicines as prescribed. The service was clean and well maintained.

The service followed safe recruitment practices that helped ensure only staff who were of good character and suitable to work in care were employed.

New staff completed an induction designed to ensure they understood their new role before being permitted to work unsupervised. Staff received regular support and one-to-one sessions or supervision to discuss areas of development. They completed a wide range of training and felt it supported them in their job role.

People's needs and choices were assessed and support was delivered in line with current guidance. People’s independence was promoted.

Staff sought consent from people before providing care or support. The ability of people to make decisions was assessed in line with legal requirements to ensure their liberty was not restricted unlawfully.

Staff supported people to access the healthcare services they needed to maintain their health and referred people to specialist support when necessary.

People were cared for with kindness and compassion. Care plans provided comprehensive information about how people wished to receive care and support. This helped ensure people received personalised care in a way that met their individual needs.

A complaints procedure was in place. Information was available for people and their relatives to make a complaint and relatives were confident the registered manager would respond appropriately if they raised any concerns.

Effective leadership was visible across the service and the registered manager, the regional manager and staff had a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities. The provider had a range of audits in place to assess, monitor and drive improvement. However, the service did not always adhere to the provider’s policy on reviewing risk assessments.