CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Holmbury Dene (Respite)
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found safeguarding procedures, regular risk reviews, enough staff and safe medicines systems. The home was clean and staff followed infection control procedures.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had induction, training, supervision and appraisals. People received support with food, consent, mental capacity and changing health needs.
- Caring?
- Good
- People and relatives described staff as kind and helpful. Staff respected privacy and dignity and supported people to make choices and build independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's individual needs, communication needs, interests and risks. People were supported with activities, education, community life and complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The manager carried out regular audits, gathered feedback and worked with health and social care services. However, staff gave mixed views about support from managers and senior managers.
What inspectors found, January 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, but staff raised concerns about management support.
This was an unannounced inspection on 5 October 2018, followed by an agreed visit on 19 October. One inspector and an expert by experience spoke with people, relatives and staff. They reviewed care records, medicine records, staff files and other documents.
The home supported up to 10 people with learning disabilities, including people receiving respite care and permanent placements. At the time, four people lived there and one person was receiving respite care.
Inspectors rated the home Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. They found safe medicines systems, enough staff, personalised care, support with activities and good links with health and social care services.
Staff gave mixed views about management support. Inspectors recommended that the provider seek guidance on how to engage more effectively with staff. They found no evidence of serious risks or concerns, and the overall Good rating stayed the same as at the previous inspection.
Safe medicines
Inspectors found established systems for administering, ordering, storing and disposing of medicines. Records were completed accurately and stock checks matched the records.
“People's medicines were managed safely. There were established systems in place for the administration, ordering and storage of medicines.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's preferences, communication needs, health needs and the support required to manage risks. People were involved in assessments and care planning.
“Care plans were developed using the information people provided to ensure their views on their care and support was considered.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives said staff were kind and helpful. Inspectors observed staff respecting privacy, dignity and people's choices.
“Staff treated people with respect. We observed staff speaking with people in a way that was respectful.” from the report
Activities and independence
People were supported to take part in activities they enjoyed, attend education and use local community facilities. Staff also helped people develop daily living skills.
“People continued to take part in activities they enjoyed and met their social and educational needs.” from the report
Mixed views about management support
needs fixingSome staff said they felt unsupported when things went wrong and were not always involved in changes. Inspectors recommended guidance to improve how the provider engages with staff.
“We recommend guidance is sought by the provider on how to engage effectively with staff that work at the service.” from the report
- 01How do you support new respite guests to settle in and make sure their care plans reflect their needs and preferences?
- 02How are staff concerns dealt with when something goes wrong, such as a person leaving the building unnoticed?
- 03How are people supported to choose and take part in activities, education and community outings?
- 04How do you make sure communication information, including easy-read documents, is right for the person?
- 05How do you involve families in decisions about care, health needs and any complex treatments?
This was an inspection of all five key areas, with the overall rating remaining Good; the first visit was unannounced and the second was agreed with the manager. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 January 2019 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 Holmbury Dene (Respite)
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 26 January 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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Lewisham
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 £950 to £1,260 a week. 82 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“She cared for my mum with Alzheimer's with endless patience and kindness, always arriving with a smile and a positive attitude”
“Usha rapidly became 'one of the family' and is sorely missed.”
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.