Archived: Hollyhurst

One person said that they did not like the decoration in their bedroom, but that they had been told this would be changed to a colour of their choice within the next two weeks.

Another person told us they were going out shopping that evening, with support from staff, for personal items. They told us they liked the staff at Hollyhurst and were happy living there. One person said, 'I like my keyworker. They are helping me with my budget plan.'

People told us of their hopes to move on from Hollyhurst and that staff had been helping them with this.

We asked people about the activities they had been involved with. One person told us that they been to Blackpool that weekend to see the lights. Other people told us that they went horse riding, shopping in the local community and attended college courses.

Those people we talked to knew about person centred planning and said that they had helped write their plans. People told us they had a keyworker and a named nurse. They said they were helped to go the dentist and to get their eyes tested. One person told us they were hoping to get a brace to improve their teeth. Another person told us how they were involved in activities to develop their daily living skills, like cooking, ironing and washing. They also told us, that as part of their care plan to live independently, they would be able to go out into the community on their own.

A third person told us of their plans to get a tattoo and how the staff were supporting them with this.

We asked people if they were unhappy would they feel able tell someone about it. They said:

'I would speak to Jean (the manager) or Alison (the deputy manager) and make it absolutely clear' and

'I would go to my nurse if I needed anything'.

Other comments from people included:

'They (the staff) treat me well',

'They (the staff) are spot on',

'All in all it's a very nice place'.

'I like it here',

'I like washing the vans',

'Jeff's my keyworker. He drives the buses',

'I've got a busy day tomorrow, I've got to be up early for breakfast as I am going to college all day',

'I'm looking forward to the Halloween party; we have prizes for the best costume and best dancer' and

'My named nurse helped me to write my care plan'.

We saw people took part in a range of activities. This included preparing their lunchtime meal in the bungalow next to the main building, taking part in games in the extensive garden, help to wash the bus, and taking part in arts and crafts. People told us that they attended art classes at college and took pride in showing us their work. Some people said they really enjoyed the weekly horse riding sessions, and other people shopping in the local community with one to one staff support. People told us how they were encouraged to develop their independent living skills and took turns cleaning the building.

People told us they felt safe living at Hollyhurst. And we saw that they had no hesitation in talking with the Manager or Deputy Manager if they had any worries or concerns.

People told us how they attended weekly meetings and had the opportunity to voice their opinions. One person told us how they enjoyed being involved in the staff recruitment process. People told us how they were always involved in meetings about their care needs and were fully involved in any decisions about their future. Some people told us about their incentive programmes, which they said they found beneficial.

There were a high number of staff on duty. Some of the people who used services, because of their complex needs, required 1:1 staff support. We saw that this was provided. People told us they liked the staff.

Overall there was a good rapport between the majority of staff on duty and the people who used services. We saw that they understood the needs of the people in their care. However, we also saw that some staff did not treat people with dignity or respected their right to privacy.

Some people showed us their bedrooms. These were all individual and full of personal items and possessions. People told us they liked their bedrooms and had chosen the colour schemes. The manager was in the process of having keys cut for some people so that they could independently use their bedrooms.