CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Holly Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found safe recruitment, enough staff, suitable risk assessments, safe medicines systems and good infection control, although some medicines no longer needed were still stored.
- Effective?
- Good
- Care plans were detailed and person-centred. Staff received induction, relevant training and supervision, and people were supported with food, healthcare, communication and legally required consent arrangements.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was carried forward.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was carried forward.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Managers and staff worked openly together and used audits, feedback and incident reviews to improve care. Relatives said staff included them in their family members' lives.
What inspectors found, December 2022
Holly Lodge is rated Good; inspectors found safe, person-centred care, with a minor medicines-record issue to tidy up.
This was an unannounced inspection on 25 October and 2 November 2022. Inspectors spoke with people, relatives, managers and staff. They observed care and checked care records, recruitment files, safety records and audits.
The inspection was prompted partly by concerns about people's wellbeing and staff conduct. Inspectors found no evidence that people were at risk of harm from these concerns. They found that people were supported safely, treated with respect and encouraged to make choices and live as independently as possible.
The home was rated Good overall and Good for Safe, Effective and Well-led. The overall rating stayed the same as at the previous inspection, published in November 2018. Caring and Responsive were not inspected during this visit, so their previous ratings carried over into the overall rating.
Safe staffing
Recruitment checks were completed and there were enough staff to meet people's needs. Agency workers were regular workers who knew the people living in the home.
“There were sufficient staff deployed to meet people's needs and any funded 1 to 1 hours.” from the report
Kind, respectful care
Inspectors saw staff speaking respectfully and asking rather than telling. Relatives were very happy with the care and involvement of staff.
“We saw staff speaking to people with respect, asking and not telling and generally providing kind and respectful care.” from the report
Learning and oversight
Managers reviewed accidents, incidents and near misses. Regular audits and monthly management visits were used to identify actions and improve the service.
“There was a strong culture of learning when things went wrong.” from the report
Medicines no longer needed
minorSome medicines that were no longer required remained stored at the home and continued to appear in pharmacy records. Inspectors said the GP and pharmacy should be contacted to reduce the risk of future errors and waste.
“There were some medicines stored that were no longer required.” from the report
- 01What has been done to remove medicines that are no longer required from storage and pharmacy records?
- 02How are staff trained to support my relative's specific communication, health and behavioural needs?
- 03How will my relative be supported to make choices and develop independence in daily activities?
- 04How are relatives included in care planning, reviews and decisions about changes in support?
- 05What were the previous ratings for Caring and Responsive, and when will these areas next be reviewed?
This was an unannounced, prompted inspection that looked at Safe, Effective and Well-led; Caring and Responsive were not inspected and their previous ratings carried over. This explanation was written from the published report of 30 December 2022 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, November 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with improved leadership but no registered manager in post.
This was an unannounced inspection on 5 and 6 November 2018. Inspectors spoke with people living at the home, staff, relatives and health professionals. They observed care, checked the building and reviewed care records, staff files, training, audits and other records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found that people were protected from abuse, received their medicines safely, and had suitable care plans and risk assessments. Staff knew people well and treated them with kindness, dignity and respect.
The report says the home had improved since earlier concerns about maintenance and leadership. A new manager was in post and had applied to become registered, but there was not yet a registered manager. The home had systems to monitor quality and maintenance, and complaints were investigated and answered.
Safe medicines and premises
Medicines were stored securely and staff records showed that medicines had been given and recorded correctly. Inspectors also found that checks of the building and equipment were up to date.
“Medicines were stored safely and securely, and procedures were in place to ensure people received their medicines as prescribed.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Staff understood people's needs and communication styles. Inspectors saw staff giving people time, attention and support in a considerate way.
“Staff interacted with people positively, displaying understanding, kindness and sensitivity.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans reflected people's histories, preferences and needs. People were involved in choices about their care, activities, food and daily life.
“There was a strong emphasis on enabling people to live their lives to the full and to be fully involved in all aspects of the care and support they received.” from the report
Improved quality checks
The provider used regular audits and action plans to monitor care, safety and maintenance. Inspectors found that earlier maintenance concerns had been addressed sufficiently.
“During this inspection, we found that sufficient action had been taken to address these concerns.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01Has the manager's application to become the registered manager been completed?
- 02How will the home maintain stable leadership if the current manager leaves?
- 03How often are agency staff used, and how do you make sure they know each person's needs?
- 04How will relatives receive regular updates about a person's activities, health and achievements?
- 05What repairs or refurbishment work remains, including the self-contained flat being prepared for occupation?
This was an unannounced inspection of the overall service, including care, the premises and all five CQC questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 28 November 2018 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 Holly Lodge
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- December 2022Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2018Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2017Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2016
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 10 October 2016.
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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26 live-in carers within about an hour of Hampshire
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £1,020 to £1,260 a week. 23 can care for a couple. 14 years' experience on average.
“I cannot recommend Prisca highly enough, she is one in a million.”
“He stayed with her throughout the pandemic, refusing to visit his own family, who lived nearby, to reduce the risk of infection.”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.