The Care Quality Commission
  • Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Hollyrood

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Heath Road, Coxheath, Maidstone, Kent, ME17 4NP (01622) 743185

Provided and run by:
Choice Support

All Inspections

14 September 2015

During a routine inspection

The inspection was carried out on 14 September 2015 and was unannounced.

The service provided accommodation for people who required personal care. The accommodation was a large detached house providing support for up to four people who live with a learning disability or associated need. Three people lived there at the time of our inspection.

There was a registered manager employed at the service who managed another two of the provider’s services.. 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 Care Quality Commission (CQC) monitors the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which applies to care services. The registered manager understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and DoLS. Mental capacity assessments and decisions made in people’s best interest were recorded. At the time of the inspection the registered manager had applied for a DoLS authorisation for one person living at the service, with the support of the local authority DoLS team.

People received support from staff with taking prescribed medicines. Policies and procedures were in place for the safe administration of medicines and staff had been trained to administer medicines safely.

People told us and indicated that they felt safe. Staff had received training about protecting people from abuse, and they knew what action to take if they suspected abuse. The management team had access to, and understood the safeguarding policies of the local authority.

People’s needs were assessed before moving into the service with involvement from relatives, health professionals and the person’s funding authority. Care plans contained detailed information and clear guidance about all aspects of a person’s health, social and personal care needs to enable staff to meet people’s needs.

Potential risks to people in their everyday lives had been identified, and, had been assessed in relation to the impact that it had on people.

Staff were available to meet people’s assessed needs. People were encouraged and were supported to engage in activities within the service and in the community.

Recruitment practices were safe and checks were carried out to make sure staff were suitable to work with people who needed care and support. Staff received induction training and the day to day support they needed to ensure they did their job safely. Staff received support from the registered manager through supervision and an annual appraisal.

Staff supported people with their nutrition and health care needs. We found that people were enabled and encouraged to make decisions about their care. People with complex health needs were supported by relative’s and health care professionals about how their care was planned and delivered.

Staff were considerate and respectful when speaking about people. Staff knew people very well, including their personal histories, hobbies and interests. There was a relaxed atmosphere in the service between people and staff.

Systems were in place for people or their relatives to raise their concerns or complaints.

There were systems in place to review accident and incidents, and the system in use was able to detect and alert the registered manager to any patterns or trends that had developed.

The registered manager ensured that they had planned for unforeseeable emergencies, so that should they happen people’s care needs would continue to be met. The premises were maintained and checked to help ensure the safety of people, staff and visitors.

The management of the service was stable and staff felt supported by the registered manager. The registered manager and senior operations manager undertook regular audits and took action when changes or improvements were needed.

23 December 2013

During a routine inspection

People told us that staff members obtained their consent before supporting them with care or treatment. Care records recorded which decisions people were able to make for themselves and which decisions they did not have the capacity to make.

People received the care and support they required to improve their health and well-being.

Risk assessments and care records were written in detail and provided clear guidance to staff members, and evaluations of care plans were completed.

There were effective systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection. Communal and domestic areas of the home looked clean and hygienic.

There were effective recruitment and selection processes in place and appropriate checks were undertaken before staff began work. We looked at three staff files and saw that people were cared for, or supported by, suitably qualified, skilled and experienced staff.

The provider had an effective system to regularly assess and monitor the quality of service that people received.

People were made aware of the complaints system. This was provided in a format that met their needs.

15 January 2013

During a routine inspection

People at the service had a limited ability to communicate verbally but those we were able to speak with told us that they were happy in their home. They told us what things they liked to do and how they liked staff to support them. One person showed us a mobile phone they had bought with the support of a staff member and showed us how they used it. This person's goal was to telephone their family more often and the mobile phone clearly helped to encourage them with this task. Staff we spoke with told us that they were a good team with a mix of skills and experience and that they felt well supported by the provider. We found that people were cared and supported in a way which respected their individual preferences and decisions. We saw that people were safe and that staff were provided with training and support to maintain their safety. We found that staff received appropriate training and support, although there was no clear structure in place to ensure that supervision and appraisal happened at regular intervals. Staff told us that they were able to speak to their team leader or senior if they had any issues and were confident to do so.

12 January and 7 March 2011

During a routine inspection

People told us they were very happy living in the home. One person said. 'Good place to live.' People told us they were able to make their own decisions about what they wanted to do. They told us they enjoyed going out in the community and make good use of cinemas, shops and restaurants. They told us they had house meeting each week to discuss how things are going and what they would like to do.

People told us they enjoyed going out to the town for lunch and shopping. On the day before our visit people told us they had been shopping and out to the cinema and lunch. One person told us they liked to stay at home and do activities such as baking or just relax in their room. Another person enjoyed going out to clubs.

People told us they enjoyed the food. They said, 'I like cooking and baking.' 'Food is nice.' People helped to prepare meals and were encouraged to be involved in preparing drinks and snacks.

People told us they felt safe living at Hollyrood. They said the home was always clean. One person told us they enjoyed doing their own cleaning. People told us that staff helped them with their medicines. One person showed us their room. They told us they were happy with the room and liked having their own adapted bathroom.

People told us they liked the staff. They told us there were always enough staff to help them do the things they wanted to. They said that People who used the service told us staff looked after them well.