Woodstown House

Updated 29 April 2022

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection team consisted of two inspectors.

Service and service type

Woodstown House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Woodstown House is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since its registration. We sought feedback from the local authority. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with two people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with ten members of staff including the registered manager, the clinical lead, the senior physiotherapist, the senior clinical trainer, housekeepers and carers. We observed interactions between staff and people who used the service. Where people were unable to talk to us, we observed their body language and interactions with staff.

We reviewed a range of records and this included two people’s care records, nine people’s medication records; and five staff files in relation to recruitment, supervision and training. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We spoke with one person who used the service and three relatives about their experience of the care provided. We reviewed three people’s care records. We reviewed records in relation to training and quality assurance. We sought feedback from healthcare professionals who regularly visit the service.

Updated 29 April 2022

About the service

Woodstown House is a care home providing personal and nursing care for up to 40 people, some of whom were living with physical disabilities or sensory impairments. Woodstown House also provides a rehabilitation service with in-house healthcare professionals, such as a physiotherapy team. The service is set across four floors in one purpose-built facility. At the time of our inspection there were 11 people using the service across one floor.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People told us staff were kind, caring and they felt safe in the service. There were sufficient staff to support people effectively with their care needs. Staff were aware of risks associated with people’s care and how to reduce these. People’s medicines were received, stored and administered safely.

We were assured the service were following safe infection prevention and control procedures to keep people safe.

Safety checks of the premises and equipment had been undertaken. There were evacuation plans in place in the event of a fire or other emergencies and people had personal emergency evacuation plans.

Care plans were person-centred and included information on people’s risks in relation to their care. This included details on the steps staff should take to best support the individual to be safe whilst respecting their preferences.

People and their relatives told us they had access to healthcare professionals when they needed this, and care records we reviewed confirmed that healthcare professionals had been involved in people’s care.

There was a range of activities available for people and this included group and one-to-one interactions. We received mixed feedback from relatives in relation to this and the provider confirmed that they were already aware and had addressed this; and they were in the process of recruiting activities staff. One relative told us, “I think they could possibly do a little more [in relation to activities].”

Staff had considered the risk of social isolation and records we reviewed confirmed that regular checks of people had been undertaken where this was appropriate.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People, their relatives and staff told us they felt there was a positive culture at the service and that the service was managed well. There were systems in place to monitor the quality of care provided. People and their relatives told us they knew how to complain and felt confident complaints would be listened to and addressed appropriately by the registered manager.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 9 February 2021 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on when the service first registered with us.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.