Archived: Holt Farm Care Limited

Updated 20 January 2016

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 unannounced inspection took place on 18 December 2015. The inspection team consisted of two inspectors.

Before the inspection, we asked the provider to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) and this was returned to us. A PIR is a form that asks the provider for some key information about the service, what the service does well and any improvements they plan to make.

We reviewed information we had received about the service. This included statutory notifications sent to us by the registered manager about incidents and events that had occurred at the service. A notification is information about important events, which the service is required to send to us by law.

During the inspection, we spoke with four people, the area manager, the registered manager, the deputy manager and two care staff. After the inspection, we spoke with one family and three external professionals involved with the people who used the service.

We reviewed all four people’s care records and their medication administration records (MAR). We looked at two staff files including their supervision records. We also looked at a range of records relating to the management of the home. We looked around the home and observed the way staff interacted with people.

Updated 20 January 2016

We inspected Holt Farm on 18 December 2015. It was an unannounced inspection. The service provides care for up to six people with learning disabilities or mental health needs. At the time of the inspection there were four people living at the service.

There was a registered manager at the service. 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.

People were safe. Arrangements were in place to protect people who used the service from the risks of abuse and avoidable harm. There were enough staff on duty and they were clear about their responsibilities to identify abuse and to report any concerns to protect people who lived at the service.

People received their medicines as prescribed and appropriate records were kept when medicines were administered by the staff.

People had assessments which considered potential risks when they engaged in activities and ensured their independence was promoted and their dignity maintained.

The registered manager and staff understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. The MCA is the legal framework that protects people’s right to make their own choices.

People were supported in a caring and respectful way. Staff showed a caring approach to people in the service.

People had enough to eat and drink. People were supported by staff to eat food they enjoyed. Mealtimes were flexible to meet people’s individual needs. Activities were tailored to reflect people’s individual needs and preferences. This included activities in the home as well as trips out into the community.

People were supported to access health care professionals to ensure their health care needs were met. People’s needs were reviewed on a regular basis and external professionals were involved as necessary.

The provider had management systems in place to assess and monitor the quality of the service provided. This included gathering feedback from people who used the service and their relatives.