28 July 2015
During a routine inspection
Holly House is a domiciliary care agency which provides personal care and support to people with learning difficulties in their own homes. At the time of our visit the service supported six people. Five people lived in a shared house, and one person lived in a separate flat.
We inspected the service on 28 July 2015. The provider was told we were coming so they could arrange for staff to be available to talk with us about the service.
The service has a registered manager. 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People and their relatives told us they felt safe using the service. Staff demonstrated they understood the importance of keeping people safe. They understood their responsibilities for reporting any concerns regarding potential abuse. Risks to people’s health and welfare were assessed and care plans gave staff instructions on how to minimise identified risks, so staff knew how to support people safely.
There were enough staff on duty to meet people’s needs. The recruitment process checked staff’s suitability to deliver personal care safely. Staff received training and support that ensured people’s needs were met effectively. Staff supported people with kindness and compassion, and treated people in a way that respected their dignity and promoted their independence.
Management and staff understood their responsibility to comply with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and supported people in line with these principles. People’s records showed that their families and other health professionals were involved in decisions made in their best interests.
People were encouraged to maintain their independence and they were involved in planning how they were cared for and supported. Care was planned to meet people’s individual needs and preferences, and care plans were regularly reviewed.
The provider and registered manager were dedicated to providing quality care to people. Staff and people who used the service found them open, approachable, and responsive. There were processes to monitor the quality of the service provided and to understand the experiences of people who used the service. This was through regular communication with people and staff, checks on records, returned surveys from people who used the service, health professionals and staff and a programme of checks and audits.