This inspection took place on 12 January 2017. The service was last inspected on 1 October 2014, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

The Hollies is a large detached house built in 1801 in the centre of Norton. The Hollies provides services for up to 18 adults with mental health problems.

Risks to people arising from their health and support needs and the premises were assessed, and plans were in place to minimise them.

There were systems in place to ensure that people received their medication as prescribed.

There was enough staff to meet people's needs. Robust recruitment and selection procedures were in place and appropriate checks had been undertaken before staff began work. Staff told us they received training to be able to carry out their role. Staff were given effective supervision and a yearly appraisal.

Staff understood safeguarding issues, and felt confident to raise any concerns they had in order to keep people safe.

People were supported to maintain a healthy diet, and people’s dietary needs and preferences were catered for. People told us they had a choice of food at the service, and that they enjoyed it.

The service worked with external professionals to support and maintain people’s health.

The interactions between people and staff were cheerful and supportive. Staff were kind and respectful.

Care was planned and delivered in way that responded to people’s assessed needs. Plans contained detailed information on people’s personal preferences.

People had access to a wide range of activities, which they enjoyed.

The service had a clear complaints policy that was applied when issues arose.

The registered manager was a visible presence at the service, and was actively involved in monitoring standards and promoting good practice. The service had quality assurance systems in place which were used to drive continuous improvements.

Further information is in the detailed findings below:

During the visit, we spoke with staff and people who lived in the home. We looked at records and spent time observing practice. This was a routine visit and we looked at how people were enabled to make decisions about their care; what the care was like; and how the home was run.

We spoke to staff and found that they were very knowledgeable about people’s likes and dislikes and how they wished to be supported. We were able to see how people’s skills and independence were promoted. We saw that staff were very caring and supportive of people.

Where people were highlighted as being at risk, for example, with diabetes, care plans had been developed. We found that care records contained up to date risk assessments and care plans. We found that care plans were reviewed regularly.

We found that the care records contained evidence to confirm that people had been involved with health professionals. People's health, safety and welfare were protected when more than one provider was involved in their care and treatment.

We found that there was enough staff on duty to meet the needs of people living in the home.

We saw evidence that the manager took steps to ensure the quality of the service was monitored. We saw that resident and staff meetings had taken place and that annual surveys were carried out.

We found that people were protected from the risks of unsafe or inappropriate care and treatment because records were maintained.

During this inspection we spoke with seven people who were living at the Hollies. We spoke with the manager and a member of staff. People told us they felt involved and supported in the care delivered to them. One person said; "This is the best place I have lived in, the staff sit down and listen to you “.

Another person told us ;"We are happy here, it’s nice, we are a happy crowd”. Three other people told us; “We have monthly meetings here on Thursdays and we discuss things, we fill in questionnaires and have a suggestion box”. Another person told us; "I lead the monthly meetings, the staff are around if I need them to support me but I lead them “.

We saw that staff treated people with dignity and respect. We found that people were involved in decisions about their care.

There was a friendly and relaxed atmosphere between the people living at the Hollies and the staff. We observed staff interacting well with people and supporting them which had a positive impact on their wellbeing. People told us their views were taken into account in the assessment and care planning process.

We found the home had systems in place to ensure maintenance and improvements were carried out.

There were appropriate arrangements in place for the recruitment of staff.

We saw the home had a complaints procedure in place and this was accessible to people and their relatives

We spoke to people about life at The Hollies. They confirmed they were able to make decisions about their daily lives and that they were treated with respect. One person said, "I am a vegetarian and the food is lovely. I am very happy here, if I wasn’t I would not be here".

Another person said, "The staff have a lot of respect, there is a consultative attitude".

People told us that they were provided with the care and support they needed. They said, "I like the staff very much they work very hard".

People said they have a keyworker (a system where a named member of staff has particular responsibilities for individual people living at the home), one person said of their keyworker, "They talk to me when I need to talk, they have discussed my assessments and care plan with me".

They also said, "They notice when I am unwell, they recognise it and help me through it".

People spoke positively about the staff team and care and support that was provided to them. One person said, "I have a very good relationship with the staff, if you want to talk to them they are there". They mentioned one member of staff by name and said, "They are excellent, they have a good understanding of my condition and have made a positive impact on my wellbeing".

Another person said, "There is a good bunch of staff, they are more like a family".

This inspection took place on 12 January 2017. The service was last inspected on 1 October 2014, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

The Hollies is a large detached house built in 1801 in the centre of Norton. The Hollies provides services for up to 18 adults with mental health problems.

Risks to people arising from their health and support needs and the premises were assessed, and plans were in place to minimise them.

There were systems in place to ensure that people received their medication as prescribed.

There was enough staff to meet people's needs. Robust recruitment and selection procedures were in place and appropriate checks had been undertaken before staff began work. Staff told us they received training to be able to carry out their role. Staff were given effective supervision and a yearly appraisal.

Staff understood safeguarding issues, and felt confident to raise any concerns they had in order to keep people safe.

People were supported to maintain a healthy diet, and people’s dietary needs and preferences were catered for. People told us they had a choice of food at the service, and that they enjoyed it.

The service worked with external professionals to support and maintain people’s health.

The interactions between people and staff were cheerful and supportive. Staff were kind and respectful.

Care was planned and delivered in way that responded to people’s assessed needs. Plans contained detailed information on people’s personal preferences.

People had access to a wide range of activities, which they enjoyed.

The service had a clear complaints policy that was applied when issues arose.

The registered manager was a visible presence at the service, and was actively involved in monitoring standards and promoting good practice. The service had quality assurance systems in place which were used to drive continuous improvements.

Further information is in the detailed findings below: