We carried out a review of the data available to us about Holly Cottage LLP on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Holly Cottage LLP, you can give feedback on this service.
We found the following examples of good practice.
On arrival at the home visitors had their temperature taken, completed a health questionnaire and declaration. They were also were required to wash their hands and were given personal protective equipment (PPE) to put on. They were also asked to complete a test for COVID-19.
The home had an ample supply of PPE. All staff had received training in the correct use of PPE, and how to take it off and put it on safely. Staff had worked flexibly to change shifts and work extra hours so that there was no need to use agency staff. The registered manager praised staff's dedication to the home and supporting people during the last year.
People were supported to have regular contact with their families and friends via video calling. People were supported to take part in activities that they enjoyed with staff. Testing was carried out for both people living in the home and staff on a regular basis. Contingency plans were in place in the event of anyone testing positive for COVID-19 or displaying symptoms. These included plans for staffing the home and ensuring that immediate action was taken to prevent the spread of infection.
If anyone had symptoms of COVID-19 they were tested immediately and isolated until the results were received.
Cleaning of the home, including frequently touched surfaces, had increased to reduce the risk of transmission of infection. There were ample supplies of cleaning equipment. Staff had been made aware of the correct cleaning fluids to use to prevent the spread of infection.
Holly Cottage is a residential care home providing personal care to six people who all have a learning disability.
Holly Cottage accommodates six people in one adapted building over two floors.
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.
The Secretary of State has asked the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to conduct a thematic review and to make recommendations about the use of restrictive interventions in settings that provide care for people with or who might have mental health problems, learning disabilities and/or autism. Thematic reviews look in-depth at specific issues concerning quality of care across the health and social care sectors. They expand our understanding of both good and poor practice and of the potential drivers of improvement.
As part of thematic review, we carried out a survey with the nominated individual at this inspection. This considered whether the service used any restrictive intervention practices (restraint, seclusion and segregation) when supporting people. No restrictive intervention practices were used.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People showed they were happy living at Holly Cottage, they felt safe and comfortable with the staff team.
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 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 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 as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
The provider had systems in place to manage risks and keep people safe from avoidable harm. Staff followed good practice guidelines to prevent the spread of infection and gave people their medicines safely. People were supported to be as active as possible. The staff looked for ways to continually make improvements, worked well with external professionals and ensured that people were part of their local community.
Staff were kind and caring and knew each person well. Staff enjoyed working at the service and felt the they received good support. There were enough staff to support people in the way they wanted. Staff received training, supervision, guidance and support so that they could do their job well. Staff respected people’s privacy and dignity and encouraged independence wherever possible.
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 4 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.
At the last inspection the service was rated Good.
At this inspection we found the service remained Good.
People told us they felt safe living in the service. Risks to people were appropriately planned for and managed. Shortfalls in Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) processes had been identified and improved upon since the last inspection The service was meeting the requirements of the MCA and DoLS. 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.
There were enough staff who had received appropriate training, support and development to provide people with the care and support when they needed it.
People received appropriate support to maintain a healthy diet and are able to choose and help prepare meals.
People told us and we observed that they were treated with kindness by staff who respected their privacy and upheld their dignity.
People were given the opportunity to feed back on the service and their views were acted on.
People received personalised care that met their individual needs. People were given appropriate support and encouragement to access meaningful activities and follow their individual interests.
People told us they knew how to complain and were confident they would be listened to if they wished to make a complaint.
The provider, registered manager and staff created an open and inclusive atmosphere within the service. People, staff and external health professionals were invited to take part in discussions around shaping the future of the service.
There were quality assurance procedures to regularly check the quality of the service in place and any shortfalls were identified and swiftly acted on to improve the service.
Further information is in the detailed findings below
This unannounced inspection was carried out on 02 December 2014. The last inspection took place 04 September 2013, during which, we found the regulations were being met.
Holly Cottage LLP is a registered care home for a maximum number of six people with learning disabilities. Nursing care is not provided. Accommodation is provided over two floors and there are six single occupancy bedrooms, three of which have ensuite facilities. At the time of this inspection six people were living in the home.
At the time of our inspection a registered manager was in place. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is required by law to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and report on what we find. We found that people’s rights were not being protected as DoLS applications had not been submitted to the authorising agencies.
We saw that people who lived in the home were assisted by staff in a way that supported their safety and that they were treated with respect. People had health care and support plans in place which documented their current needs. These plans recorded for staff people’s individual choices, their likes and dislikes and any assistance they required. Risks to people who lived in the home were identified, and plans were put into place by staff to minimise these risks and enable people to live as safe and independent lives as possible.
We saw that staff cared for people in a warm and respectful manner and there were friendly and supportive relationships in place between staff and people living at the home. Relatives told us they were able to raise any suggestions or concerns they might have with the manager and that they were involved in their relatives reviews. They said that they felt listened to as communication with the manager was very good.
Staff were trained to provide effective and safe care which met people’s individual needs and wishes. Staff we spoke with understood their roles and responsibilities. They told us that they were supported by the manager to maintain and develop their skills through ongoing training.
Arrangements were in place to ensure the quality of the service provided for people was regularly monitored. We found that people who lived in the home and their relatives were encouraged to share their views and feedback about the quality of the care and support provided.
Staff had received all the mandatory training to meet the needs of those who lived in Holly Cottage. The provider acknowledged that the people living in the home were aging and therefore training has also started to incorporate different training in relation to the care of older people with disabilities. All staff we spoke with were very knowledgeable about each person in the home and were able to tell us about them. This meant people had staff who understood them and were able to provide the care they needed.
We found that staff had been working in the home for many years, which meant people who live in the home had good continuity of care.
People had their own pictures and other items in their bedrooms and one person showed us and talked about the posters in their room and that they had been to a concert.