CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Holmlea Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home was preventing and managing infection risks. They also found measures to reduce the effects of COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- 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, February 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control arrangements and measures to manage COVID-19 staffing pressures.
Inspectors visited the home on 9 February 2022. The visit was announced the day before and was carried out as a targeted inspection during the COVID-19 response.
They looked mainly at infection prevention and control, including visitors, protective equipment, testing, cleaning, social distancing and vaccinations. They also asked about staffing pressures and their effect on care.
Inspectors said they were assured that the home had safe infection control arrangements. The provider had employed an extra cleaner, used no agency staff to maintain continuity of care, and worked with infection control specialists.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means this report does not give an overall quality rating or a rated judgement for the five areas of care.
Extra cleaning
The provider added a cleaner to help maintain increased cleaning arrangements.
“The provider had employed an additional cleaner to ensure increased cleaning protocols could be maintained.” from the report
Continuity of care
Staff maintained care without needing agency workers during the staffing pressures described in the report.
“Staff ensured people received a continuity of care, without having to use agency staff.” from the report
Infection control guidance
The registered manager worked with infection control specialists to keep staff guidance up to date.
“The registered manager had worked well with visiting infection control specialists and others to ensure staff had up to date guidance on infection control and vaccinations.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are the increased cleaning arrangements being maintained now?
- 02How do you manage staff shortages, and do you currently need agency staff?
- 03How do you check that staff and visiting professionals meet the current vaccination requirements?
- 04How are visits being arranged and supported under the current guidance?
- 05When was the home last assessed for the other areas of care that were not covered by this targeted inspection?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated overall. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 February 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, February 2019
Holmlea Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe care, with some mental health care plans needing more detail.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 19 December 2018. One inspector spoke with people, relatives and staff, observed care, and checked care, medicine, staff and quality records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines management, suitable recruitment checks, good training and positive relationships.
People's care was personalised and adapted as needs changed. However, some mental state and cognition care plans did not explain the best strategies for staff to use consistently.
The overall Good rating stayed the same as at the previous inspection in May 2016. The report says there was no evidence of serious risks or concerns.
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives gave very positive feedback. Inspectors observed staff chatting with people and supporting dignity, choice and independence.
“People and relatives gave very good feedback about the care provided at the home and the staff team.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
People said staff responded quickly when they needed help. Inspectors found medicines were stored, administered and recorded safely.
“Medicines administration records (MARs) accurately recorded the medicines staff gave people.” from the report
Good staff support
Training, supervision and appraisals were up to date. Staff told inspectors they felt supported and could access further training.
“Records confirmed training, supervision and appraisals were up-to-date.” from the report
Activities and personalisation
People could take part in activities, go out and have their rooms personalised. The home also helped relatives who could not visit to stay involved.
“There were good opportunities for people to participate in activities if they wanted.” from the report
Quality checks and listening
The provider carried out regular checks, gathered views from people and staff, and developed action plans when improvements were suggested.
“The provider continued to operate a structured approach to quality assurance.” from the report
Some care plans lacked detail
needs fixingSome mental state and cognition care plans did not describe the most effective strategies for staff to follow. This could make support less consistent, although staff had a good understanding of people's needs.
“Although staff had an in-depth understanding of people's needs, we noted some 'mental state and cognition' care plans would benefit from additional information.” from the report
- 01What extra information has been added to mental state and cognition care plans since this inspection?
- 02How do you make sure staff use the same strategies when supporting a person living with dementia?
- 03How do you review care plans when a person's needs change?
- 04What activities and outings would be available for my relative, and how would you support them to take part?
- 05How would you keep our family involved if we could not visit regularly?
This was an unannounced inspection of the overall service, including all five CQC questions, the care provided and the premises. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 February 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 Holmlea Care Home
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- February 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2011
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.
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
30 live-in carers within about an hour of North Tyneside
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 £1,130 a week. 26 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Petty introduced herself to Mum every time she was caring for her and responded very quickly to Mum if she was distressed in the night.”
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.