CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Holles Street Short Breaks Service
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed. This included safe use of protective equipment, testing, cleaning, visitor controls, admissions and the layout of the home.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, November 2020
Holles Street Short Breaks Service was inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection prevention and control measures.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 27 October 2020. Inspectors looked only at infection prevention and control because the home had been identified as a designated setting for people leaving hospital with a positive COVID-19 status.
Inspectors were assured that the home used protective equipment safely, managed visitors and admissions, supported testing, and followed shielding and distancing rules. They also found thorough cleaning, infection control zoning and measures to reduce the spread of infection.
The home was inspected but not rated. This inspection does not provide an overall rating of the quality of care or a rating for the other four CQC questions.
Protective equipment
There was a plentiful supply of personal protective equipment, and staff used it appropriately.
“The provider had ensured there was a plentiful supply of personal protective equipment and we saw staff used this appropriately.” from the report
Entry checks
The home used temperature checks, a contact questionnaire, hand disinfection and track and trace information for people entering.
“There was a designated entry system into the home, with temperature testing, contact questionnaire and hand disinfection on entry.” from the report
Zoning and cleaning
The home used designated areas and staff teams to reduce infection spread. Inspectors also found that areas were thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
“Areas were thoroughly cleaned and disinfected with approved products to reduce the potential of transfer of infection.” from the report
Staff arrangements
Staff generally worked regular shifts, with additional staff used so that people did not need to share staff across different homes.
“Staff were on a regular shift pattern with few changes of staff from shift to shift.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01Are the infection prevention measures described in this report still in place?
- 02How do you manage testing, isolation and admissions if someone has COVID-19 or another infection?
- 03How are visitors currently managed, and what checks are made before they enter?
- 04How do you make sure staff are not moved between different homes or areas in a way that could spread infection?
- 05When was the home's latest full inspection, and what were the ratings for the other CQC questions?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control only; the service was inspected but not rated and the other CQC questions were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 November 2020 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, December 2017
Holles Street Short Breaks Service was rated Good; inspectors found exceptionally caring support, with all other areas rated Good.
Inspectors carried out a comprehensive inspection visit on 31 October 2017. They spoke with people using the service, relatives, staff and the manager. They also checked care and medicine records, staff recruitment and training, complaints and quality checks.
The home provides short breaks for up to 10 adults with a learning disability. Inspectors found people were safe, had enough staff support and received their medicines correctly. Staff had suitable training and supported people with food, healthcare, choice and consent.
The strongest finding was caring. Staff knew people well, respected their dignity and choices, and supported personal goals and independence. Care was tailored to people's needs, activities were available, and relatives knew how to raise concerns.
The home remained Good overall, as it was at the September 2015 inspection. The caring rating improved from Good to Outstanding. The other four ratings remained Good.
Support for independence
People were encouraged to make choices and do things for themselves, while staff still managed risks.
“There was a balance between managing safety and independence at Holles Street.” from the report
Personalised short stays
Staff checked for changes before each stay and aimed to match routines at the home with routines at home. Care plans recorded people's needs and abilities.
“A member of staff described how this benefited people as staff could plan the person's routines to ensure they mirrored those they had at home.” from the report
Support in difficult situations
The report describes staff responding quickly to emergencies and supporting people and families through crises, changes in placement and bereavement.
“Another member of staff told us they felt the best aspect of the service was supporting people when they were in 'crisis.'” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you check for changes in my relative's health, medicines, routines and support needs before each short stay?
- 02How will you support my relative's communication, independence and choices while keeping them safe?
- 03What activities and community outings could be arranged around my relative's interests and preferences?
- 04How will you manage any challenging behaviour or health needs, and when would you involve health professionals?
- 05How will you keep me informed about changes in my relative's health, behaviour or care during a stay?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five rating areas; inspectors also reviewed records for three people using the service and their medicine records. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 December 2017 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Holles Street Short Breaks Service
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- November 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Holles Street Short Breaks Service →
- December 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Holles Street Short Breaks Service →
- November 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 14 February 2011.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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Most charge £980 to £1,260 a week. 63 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
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