SENSE Holmlea

Updated 10 July 2019

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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team:

The inspection was carried out on 25 March 2019 by one inspector.

Service and service type:

Sense Holmlea is a residential care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided and both were looked at during this inspection.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

The service had a registered manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. A registered manager and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection:

The inspection was unannounced.

What we did:

We reviewed the information we had received about the service. This included notifications of events that had happened at the service such as deaths and serious injuries, which the provider is required to send to us by law. We looked at the Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we ask the provider to send to us at least annually to tell us about what the service does well and any improvements they plan to make. This information helped us to plan our inspection.

During the inspection visit, we met four people who used the service and observed interactions between staff and these people. We met and spoke with the registered manager, the deputy manager, four members of care staff and two relatives. We reviewed three people’s care plans and looked at other information relating to people's support, such as risk assessments, communication books, records of daily activities and medicines records. In addition, we discussed the recruitment procedures with the registered manager and looked at records relating to the management and operation of the service, such as staff training, quality assurance checks and audits.

Updated 10 July 2019

About the service:

Sense Holmlea is a residential care home that provides care and support for up to six people who have learning disabilities, sensory impairments and may also have physical disabilities. At the time of our inspection there were five people living in Sense Holmlea.

People’s experience of using this service:

¿ The service was safe and people were protected from harm. Staff were knowledgeable about safeguarding adults from abuse and knew what to do if they had any concerns and how to report them. Risks to people who used the service were assessed and their safety was monitored and managed, with minimal restrictions on their freedom. Risk assessments were thorough and personalised.

¿ The service ensured there were sufficient numbers of suitable staff to meet people’s needs and support them to stay safe. The registered manager confirmed that robust recruitment procedures were followed.

¿ Medicines were stored, managed and administered safely. Staff were trained, and their competency checked, in respect of administering and managing medicines.

¿ People who used the service were supported to have sufficient amounts to eat and drink and maintain a balanced diet. People enjoyed their meals and were supported to choose what they wanted from the menus and other options available.

¿ Staff demonstrated a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. Staff understood the importance of helping people to make their own choices regarding their care and support. People who used the service were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible

¿ Staff treated people with kindness, respect and compassion. People also received emotional support when needed. People were involved in planning the care and support they received and were supported to make choices and decisions and maintain their independence as much as possible. Communication needs were identified and planned for in line with the accessible information standard. Information was provided to people in formats they could understand.

¿ Care plans were personalised and described the holistic care and support each person required, together with details of their strengths and aspirations. Information also explained how people could be supported to maintain and enhance their independence and what could help ensure they consistently had a good quality of life. People’s comments and concerns were listened to and taken seriously. The service also used any comments or complaints to help drive improvement within the service.

¿ Rating at last inspection:

The last rating for this service was Good (report published 15 September 2016).

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection based on the date and the rating of the last inspection.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor the service through the information that we receive.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk