Holly Nook

Updated 2 March 2022

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC's response to care homes with outbreaks of COVID-19, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practice is safe and that services are compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 4 February 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 48 hours' notice of the inspection.

Updated 2 March 2022

About the service

Holly Nook provides personal care in a supported living setting for up to six people with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. At the time of our inspection there were five people living at the service.

People's experience of using this service and what we found

Systems were in place to ensure people were protected from abuse and investigate any concerns. Risks linked to people's care were considered and monitored. Environmental risks were considered. The service ensured there were enough staff, who had been safely recruited. People received care from staff who knew them well and had relevant experience. People were supported appropriately with their medicines.

People's care was based on an assessment of their needs and their choices. Staff had access to training and support. People were supported to regularly access health care service's to maintain their wellbeing.

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

The service had regard for 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 that include control, choice and independence.

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 opportunities to gain new skills and become more independent.

People were well supported by staff who had a good understanding of their individual needs and preferences. There was evidence people were supported to make day to day decisions and it was clear people had been given meaningful opportunity to participate in care decisions. People's privacy and dignity were respected and supported.

People's care plans contained good detail about how they should be supported, and we witnessed staff following this guidance. Staff understood people's communication needs. People were supported to engage in a range of activities. There had been no recent formal complaints recorded. Information on people's end of life choices were recorded, as appropriate.

Audits and quality checks were in place to ensure the service maintained good standards of care and were continually looked at to develop the service, ensuring positive outcomes for people.

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was Good (published 16 May 2017)

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.