Hollyfields

Updated 11 October 2023

The inspection We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection, we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was conducted by 1 inspector, a specialist advisor in nursing care and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Hollyfields is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Hollyfields is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority who work with the service. We also requested feedback from Healthwatch to obtain their views of the service. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England.

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spent time seeing how people were cared for and spoke with 3 people living at the home and 5 relatives, to find out their views about the care provided.

We spoke with 9 members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, housekeeper, a nurse, care staff, and regional director.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 4 people's care records, multiple medication records, and records showing what support staff had provided to people so their care needs would be met. We looked at records relating to the quality, safety, and management of the home. These included checks undertaken on staff recruitment records, minutes of meetings, audits undertaken and the cleanliness of the home. After the site visit, we continued to consult with the registered manager and deputy manager. The registered manager sent us documentation we asked for and clarified any queries we had.

Updated 11 October 2023

About the service

Hollyfields is a care home that provides nursing and personal care for up to 48 people within one large, adapted building and an adjoining smaller building known as Ivy House. The service provides support to younger and older people who may have mental health needs and/or be living with dementia. At the time of our inspection, 43 people were living at the home.

People's safety was protected from abuse by knowledgeable staff. The risks to people had been assessed, reviewed and plans were in place to manage these. Staffing arrangements were continually reviewed to promote people's safety and individual needs. People were provided with assistance to take their medicines safely and as prescribed. Measures were in place to protect people, staff, and visitors from the risk of infections. Any accidents or incidents involving people living at the home were reported, recorded and action was taken to keep people safe.

Wherever possible, people's consent was gained before any care was provided. People's consent was sought by staff who knew people's preferred communication styles to aid their understanding in making everyday choices and decisions. People were supported to have choice and control over their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People's needs were assessed and responded to considering people's own culture and preferences. Staff knew people well and improvements had been made since our last inspection to provide consistent guidance in care records to promote personalised support. Staff supported people with fun and interesting things to do. People's end of life wishes were recorded, and staff felt the care they provided aided people's comfort at this important time in their lives. The provider had procedures in place to ensure concerns and complaints were dealt with in a fair and consistent manner.

The registered manager was supported by the deputy manager, and they worked as a team and were accessible, approachable, and promoted an open and inclusive culture within the service. Staff were motivated, well-supported and clear what was expected of them within their caring roles. The provider had arrangements in place to ensure audits and checks were completed to assess, monitor, and improve the quality of the service people received.

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 16 February 2019).

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about staff management of people's care needs and risks, allegations of people sustaining unexplained bruising and cleanliness of the home environment. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe, responsive, and well-led only. For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

We did not find evidence of the concerns we received prior to the inspection.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Hollyfields on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.