- Care home
Holicote
Assessment report published 3 November 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
We carried out this assessment on 14 and 26 August 2026. This service was previously rated as good. We carried out this assessment to confirm whether the rating of good remains accurate. This report does not provide detailed information on areas where we found practice continues to meet a good standard. Instead, our findings focus on any areas where the service needs to improve or where we found exceptional practice.
We assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed autistic people and people with a learning disability respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.
People were protected from avoidable harm because staff and the management team understood safeguarding procedures and knew how to recognise and report concerns. Risks to people's health, safety and wellbeing were appropriately assessed and managed.
Safe recruitment practices were followed, medicines were managed safely, and there were sufficient staff available to meet people's needs.
People can only be deprived of their liberty to receive care and treatment with appropriate legal authority. In care homes, this can be done through a procedure called the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), which is part of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). We checked whether the service was working within the principles of the MCA and how they managed DoLS within the service. We found that staff were trained in DoLs and management worked within the MCA. DoLS authorisations were appropriately applied for and overseen. People were not subject to unlawful or excessive restrictions and they had choice, control and freedom over their lives.
People's needs were assessed and care was delivered in line with current best practice and guidance. Staff received appropriate training, supervision and support to carry out their roles effectively. People were supported to maintain good health and wellbeing and had access to healthcare services when required.
Staff consistently demonstrated kindness, compassion and respect. People told inspectors they were treated with dignity and their privacy was maintained. Positive relationships had been developed between staff and the people they supported, enabling care to be delivered in a person-centred manner that promoted independence and wellbeing.
Care and support met people's individual needs, preferences and wishes. People's views were sought and acted upon, and care plans reflected their personal circumstances and goals. Relatives and staff felt confident they would be listened to if they raised issues.
The service benefited from strong leadership and a positive culture that placed people at the centre of their care. Governance systems were effective in monitoring quality, safety and performance. Staff felt supported by management and worked collaboratively to continuously improve the service. Feedback from people, relatives and staff was actively sought and used to make continued improvements.
People's experience of this service
People and their relatives spoke positively about the care and support provided and described staff as kind, caring and responsive. Feedback demonstrated people felt valued and that staff understood what mattered to them.
One person told us, "I like staying here” and “I like it here and the staff.”
People were supported to take part in activities of their choice. On the day of our inspection one person went out for the day. Another stayed home where they completed crafts and made decorations for their room to make their stay at Holicote more personalised and colourful for them.
Relatives were equally positive about their experiences of the service. One relative told us, “Staff bend over backwards to help my relative and make things as easy as possible. The service wants to make sure we and our relative get respite. I have got to know staff very well and they are lovely and they have been there a long time. It’s a lovely atmosphere and can't fault it” and “it’s the best thing for us and the only way we get to really switch off.”
People and their relatives told us staff knew people well and understood their individual preferences and needs. One person commented, "Yes I like the staff.” One relative told us, “Staff, there are always have enough and at night. All staff seem knowledgeable and well trained. When I'm talking to them about medication, they seem very on the ball about what they are talking about.”
Observations showed people appeared relaxed and comfortable in the presence of staff. Interactions were warm, friendly and respectful. Staff used gentle and reassuring communication and responded promptly when people sought assistance or reassurance. There was positive engagement between people and staff, demonstrating caring relationships and a positive atmosphere within the home. People were observed making choices about how they spent their time, with staff supporting these decisions and encouraging participation in activities that were meaningful to them.
People and relatives described receiving not only practical support but also emotional reassurance. Staff demonstrated patience, kindness and compassion when supporting people. One relative told us, “Overall, very happy with the care, Holicote have been amazing and the support has been fantastic. Can't thank the staff enough for how supportive they are. We have got to know other people that go there too as grown up with them. Good social aspect. Have no concerns at all.”