Updated 11 March 2026
Date of inspection: 28 July 2026
Due to the small size of the service and being operated by the registered manager, on a day-to-day basis, we gave short notice of our inspection on 24 July to ensure the registered manager would be available to spend time with us. The inspection was undertaken due to the aged rating of the previous inspection, which was good. At this inspection this has changed to requires improvement.
The Hollies is a care home operated by the provider, who is also the registered manager, and who also resides at the home. At the time of our inspection there were 3 people living at the home. It is registered to provide personal care and accommodation for up to 4 people. The service is registered to provide support to older adults living with a learning disability, autistic people and people with mental health support needs.
We found the quality of the service had deteriorated and we identified several shortfalls in the safety and quality of the service during our visit. There was a breach of legal regulations relating to the safe care and treatment of people and the governance of the service.
People lived in an environment where fire safety risks were not always identified or well-managed. The fire risk assessment was not effective as high volumes of combustible material were found next to heat sources which posed risks of fire outbreak. Smoke detection and fire-fighting equipment were not always in place where needed. People did not have personal emergency evacuation plans in place. Following our visit, we made a referral to the fire service so they could offer the registered manager advice and guidance.
Medicines were not always handled in line with best practice and this posed risks of potential errors occurring.
The registered manager did not employ staff or use agency staff but was supported by friends and a relative who volunteered at the home. Pre-employment volunteer staff checks had not been completed.
We identified gaps in staff knowledge, training, risk assessments and environmental safety which increased potential risks of harm to people living at the home.
Governance systems consisted of informal checks which were not robust and had not identified the issues we found during our visit.
We assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.
We found the service was not consistently meeting this guidance, which meant people were not always supported in a way which maximised their dignity, choice and access to their local community. The concerns identified during this inspection were linked by ineffective governance and oversight arrangements. Systems had failed to identify fire safety risks, medicines management concerns, gaps in staff training and development, environmental risks and shortfalls in recruitment checks. As a result, people were exposed to increased risks of avoidable harm, and the provider could not demonstrate that the quality and safety of the service was being effectively monitored and improved.
People were supported to attend healthcare appointments and the registered manager followed the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). One person living at the home had restrictions placed on their liberty for their own safety.
In instances where CQC has begun a process of regulatory action, we may publish this information on our website after any representations and/or appeals have been concluded. In addition, we have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.