CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Holme Farm Residential Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that risks were assessed and reviewed, staffing levels were maintained, recruitment checks were completed and medicines were managed safely. The environment and equipment were safe and well maintained.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had training, supervision and support, and worked with health professionals when people's needs changed. People received food and drink that met their needs and were offered choices.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were described as kind, patient and respectful. People were involved in decisions about their care and daily routines, and were encouraged to remain independent.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were personalised and reviewed regularly. Activities reflected people's interests and helped them maintain friendships, stay active and avoid social isolation.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found a positive culture, approachable management and committed staff. Regular checks, meetings and action plans were used to monitor quality and make improvements.
What inspectors found, September 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with particularly strong activities and end-of-life support.
Inspectors made an unannounced visit on 25 July 2019. One inspector spoke with people, relatives and staff, observed care, and checked care, medicine, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found people were happy, safe and well cared for.
The report highlights activities tailored to people's interests, kind and respectful staff, personalised care plans, safe medicines systems and good support at the end of life. The home had systems to monitor quality and make improvements.
Personalised activities
Activities were based on people's individual interests and were intended to support wellbeing, friendships and independence.
“Activities were designed to promote people's well-being, prevent people becoming socially isolated and to keep people active.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff treated people with kindness and respect, supported their choices and encouraged independence.
“People were cared for and supported by staff that were kind, patient and respectful.” from the report
Safe medicines
Inspectors found safe systems for ordering, checking, storing and disposing of medicines. Records showed medicines were given as prescribed.
“Records were fully completed and showed people received their medicines as prescribed.” from the report
Personalised care planning
Care plans contained personal information about people's preferences and were reviewed regularly.
“Care plans were person-centred and were reviewed on a regular basis.” from the report
End-of-life support
The report describes strong support for people's wishes and dignity at the end of life, including information about available support.
“Staff were committed to ensuring people's wishes at the end of their lives were respected” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you find out about a new resident's interests, and how are activities changed when their needs or preferences change?
- 02How often are care plans reviewed, and how are residents and relatives involved in those reviews?
- 03What arrangements are in place to cover staff absence at short notice?
- 04How do you make sure medicines remain safe and that staff are still competent to administer them?
- 05How would you support a resident and their family to record and follow their end-of-life wishes?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five key questions and the overall rating; the previous inspection had also rated all areas Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 September 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.
What inspectors found, January 2017
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with minor medicine-record issues and irregular staff meetings.
Inspectors visited without warning on 8 and 12 December 2016. They spoke with people living at the home, a relative, staff and visiting health professionals. They observed care and checked care records, medicine records, staff files, training, complaints and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, suitable care plans, good support with food and health needs, kind relationships and activities provided each day.
The home had improved since the previous inspection. Risk assessments, care planning and accident monitoring were better. Activities for people living with dementia had also improved. Inspectors noted minor gaps in some medicine records and that staff supervision and meetings were not regular enough.
Improved risk management
Risk assessments had been made more personal and were reviewed monthly. Accident patterns were analysed so care could be changed when needed.
“We saw risk assessments were reviewed monthly to ensure they remained reflective of the person's current needs.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People were treated with kindness and their privacy and dignity were respected. Staff knew people's needs and preferences well.
“We found positive relationships existed between people who used the service and staff.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans included people's histories, likes, dislikes and preferred ways of receiving support. Plans were reviewed when needs changed.
“The care plans we reviewed contained person-centred information and included individual information about a person's previous lifestyle, what was important to the person, how best to support them, likes, dislikes and preferences.” from the report
Food and health support
People had varied meals and their nutritional needs were monitored. Staff involved health professionals when people needed extra support.
“People were provided with a variety of meals and their nutritional needs were monitored to ensure they were not placed at risk of malnutrition and dehydration.” from the report
Activities and choice
Activities were available each day, including exercise, reminiscence, quizzes and entertainment. People could choose whether to join in.
“There had been some improvements with the activities for people. We found activities were provided on a daily basis.” from the report
Irregular staff supervision
needs fixingStaff supervision, appraisals and team meetings were not happening as regularly as planned. The provider sent inspectors a planner showing these should take place four times a year.
“We noted that staff supervisions and team meetings were not monitored and were held irregularly.” from the report
Survey results were unclear
minorThe way survey findings were displayed made it difficult to see the results and actions taken. The home agreed to present them in an action plan instead.
“We noted the analysis of the findings was not clear and displayed in graph format, this made it difficult to determine the results and any actions taken.” from the report
- 01How are as-needed medicines recorded and checked now, including the instructions and medicine balances?
- 02How often do staff receive supervision and attend team meetings, and how is this monitored?
- 03How are activities chosen for people who prefer to stay in their rooms or who are living with dementia?
- 04How are care plans and risk assessments updated when a person's needs or health changes?
- 05What actions have been taken in response to recent surveys and how are the results shared with residents and relatives?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions; it checked improvements requested at the previous inspection and the current ratings in each area. This explanation was written from the published report of 25 January 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 Holme Farm Residential Home
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- September 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 24 December 2010.
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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
32 live-in carers within about an hour of North Lincolnshire
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 £980 to £1,300 a week. 29 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“What truly stands out is how mindful and attentive she is to all of my medical needs, always going above and beyond to ensure I’m comfortable and well cared for.”
“Martin was more than a carer, he managed the home and became my uncle's best friend, enriching his life during his last few years.”
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.