Archived: HollyHouse

Updated 3 August 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 17 July 2018 and was unannounced. This inspection was completed by one inspector.

Prior to the inspection we looked at the information we had about the service. This information included the statutory notifications that the provider had sent to CQC. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. We reviewed the Provider Information Record (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, tells us what the service does well and the improvements they plan to make. We contacted the commissioners of the service to obtain their views about the care provided to people.

During our inspection we observed the care provided to seven people and spent time speaking with them. We spoke with the registered manager and five members of staff. We spoke with two social care professionals and contacted a further five social and health care professionals for feedback. We also considered a report by a local advocacy group who had visited the home. We looked at the care records for three people, including their medicines records. We looked at the recruitment records for three new members of staff, training records and quality assurance systems. We had a walk around the environment and checked health and safety and infection control records.

Updated 3 August 2018

HollyHouse 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.

HollyHouse can accommodate ten people. At the time of our inspection there were ten people living there who were diagnosed as having a mental health and/or learning disability diagnosis. They live in a detached house in a street in the middle of Cheltenham. They each have their own bedroom, nine of which have en-suite facilities. People have personalised their rooms and share bathrooms, a kitchen, lounge, dining room and conservatory. The garden is accessible and has patio furniture. There is a covered smoking facility.

HollyHouse has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support, Building the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

This inspection took place on 17 July 2018. At the last comprehensive inspection in September 2015 the service was rated as Good overall.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

People received personalised care and support which reflected their aspirations, hopes and routines important to them. Staff understood them really well, anticipating their feelings and emotions, treating them respectfully, with patience and sensitivity. People’s needs had been assessed and they were involved in developing their care and support with staff. If they wanted to change any aspects of this, it was discussed with staff and their care records were updated. 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.

People were encouraged to be as independent as possible. They were being supported to learn the skills they needed to live independently if they wished. People felt safe living in the home and accessing their community with staff support. They enjoyed a wide range of activities which reflected their hobbies and lifestyle choices. People’s diversity was acknowledged and respected. Staff advocated on their behalf and promoted their rights and wishes.

People were supported to stay healthy and well. They chose their weekly menus which reflected their likes and dislikes whilst promoting a healthy diet. People helped themselves to drinks and snacks and cooked meals for themselves if they wished. Each person had a health action plan which described their health care needs. They had annual check-ups with their GP and regular reviews with another specialist healthcare professional. People’s medicines were managed safely.

People had access to sufficient staff to meet their needs who had been through a satisfactory recruitment process. Staff felt supported in their roles and had access to refresher training to keep their knowledge and skills up to date. Staff were knowledgeable about people, their backgrounds and individual needs. Staff understood how to keep people safe and were confident any concerns they raised would be listened to and the appropriate action taken in response.

People’s views and the opinions of their relatives and staff were sought to make improvements to the service provided. People met formally each month to talk about their needs and any concerns they might have. They also talked with staff daily about any issues which were dealt with as they arose. The registered manager worked alongside staff enabling them to lead by example and to also ensure their values were embedded in people’s experience of their care. People told us, “The manager is kind and respects my wishes” and “Staff support us in any way they can.”

The registered manager kept up to date with current legislation and good practice, and had implemented auditing and monitoring processes effectively to ensure all aspects of the service were kept under review.