Holicote

Updated 25 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

One inspector, carried out the inspection.

Service and service type

Holicote is a residential care home that provides accommodation and personal care for adults with learning disabilities.

People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a registered manager. This means that when registered 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 registered manager and provider were working closely with the local authority commissioners on improving the quality of the service.

We used the information the provider sent us in the 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. This information helps support our inspections. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spent time with people living at the service. We spoke with one person who used the service, two relatives, the home manager, registered manager, senior manager and two care staff.

We reviewed a range of records. These included two people’s care records and two medication records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including audits, procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to corroborate evidence found. We looked at training, audits, reports from external professionals and policies.

Updated 25 September 2019

About the service

Holicote is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care. The home provides respite care to 22 people and accommodates up to 5 people. At the time of our inspection one person with learning disabilities was using the service.

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

We received positive feedback from people, they told us they were happy living at Holicote. They told us they enjoyed going out with their staff and spending time with them at Holicote.

People received person-centred support and staff knew people very well. Care plans were in place, but some areas needed more information. We have made a recommendation that the care plans were improved. To include positive behaviour plans to support people who need them.

People were supported to build and maintain important personal relationships that mattered to them, with both their partners, peers and relatives.

There were systems in place for communicating with staff, people and their relatives to ensure they were fully informed this was via team meetings, phone calls and emails. People had good links to the local community through regular access to local services.

People were supported to be independent, their rights were respected and access to advocacy was available if required. Support was provided in a way that put the people and their preferences first. Information was readily available for people in the correct format for them, including easy read.

The environment was very clean and homely soft furnishings were personalised in people’s bedrooms and people chose what room they preferred to use in when they were staying.

Audits and monitoring systems were used effectively to manage the service and to make improvements as and when required.

Medicines were managed well, safely administered and recorded accurately.

There were enough staff to support people and staff were always visible. Staff received support and a variety of appropriate training to meet people’s needs.

Individualised risk assessments were in place. Staff were confident they would raise concerns to safeguard people. Robust recruitment and selection procedures ensured suitable staff were employed.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Appropriate healthcare professionals were included in people’s care and support as and when this was needed. People were supported to have enough to eat and drink also people who need specialist diets were supported.

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.

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.

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 7 March 2017).

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.