Archived: Holly Tree Cottage

Updated 8 February 2020

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.

Service and service type

Holly Tree Cottage 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 that we held about the service such as notifications. These are events that happen in the service that the provider is legally required to tell us about. We did not request a provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We gathered this information during the inspection. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

As part of our inspection we spoke to four people about their experiences. We also spoke with three members of staff and the registered manager. We reviewed a sample of people’s care and support records. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service such as incident and accident records, training records, audits and complaints.

After the inspection

We received feedback from four relatives and requested feedback from four professionals who visited the service. We continued to seek clarification from the registered manager to validate evidence found.

Updated 8 February 2020

About the service

Holly Tree Cottage is a small care home providing accommodation and personal care to a maximum of six people with autistic spectrum disorder and learning disabilities. At the time of the inspection there were five people living at the home.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Staff supported people to manage their medicines safely. There were enough staff available to support people. Staff were recruited safely. Risks to people were identified and guidance was in place for staff to reduce the level of risk to people.

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 service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence. The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

Staff received regular training and were knowledgeable about their roles and responsibilities. They had the skills, knowledge and experience required to support people with their needs. Staff received one to one supervision and told us they felt supported.

Support plans were detailed and reviewed regularly. People’s healthcare needs were identified and met. Staff worked with a range of healthcare professionals and followed professional advice and guidance when needed.

People were supported by caring staff who worked towards promoting their dignity, privacy and independence.

There were systems to ensure care was responsive. Relatives felt their concerns and complaints would be listened to and responded to.

People, their relatives and staff commented positively about the registered manager and leadership of the service.

There were effective governance systems in place to monitor the quality of service and the health, safety of welfare of people.

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 September 2017). Since this rating was awarded the registered provider of the service has changed. We have used the previous rating to inform our planning and decisions about the rating at this inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.