Archived: Woodlands Care Centre

This inspection took place on 17 August 2016 and was an unannounced inspection.

Woodlands Care Centre is a care home providing nursing and personal care which is located in a residential area of Macclesfield. Originally a private house it has been developed to provide care for up to 30 younger adults, people living with dementia and older people. It is a two storey building with bedrooms on both floors. Access between floors is by a passenger lift or the stairs. There are gardens for people to sit in and enjoy and some car parking is available.

At the time of the inspection visit 22 people lived at the home.

At the last inspection in December 2013 the service was meeting the requirements of the regulations that were inspected at that time.

There was a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People told us they felt safe living at Woodlands Care Centre and liked living there. The registered provider had procedures to protect people from abuse and unsafe care. Staff were aware of these and had received training in safeguarding adults. They told us they would take action to ensure people’s safety where they became aware of or suspected a safeguarding concern. We observed staff provided safe, patient and sensitive care during the inspection.

The décor, fixtures and fittings in communal areas varied in quality and safety. The lounge carpet was frayed where people walked and was a trip hazard. Five window frames were not in good repair. The registered manager told us the lounge carpet and window frames were due to be replaced or repaired. When we checked this after the inspection visit the work had been completed. We made a recommendation that timely replacement of fixtures and fittings is carried out so the home is safe and kept in good repair.

Recruitment and selection was carried out safely with appropriate checks made before new staff started working in the home. This reduced the risk of employing unsuitable people.

We looked at how the home was staffed. We saw there were enough staff to provide safe care. Agency staff were used regularly in the home due to difficulties in recruiting suitable staff. However almost all people we spoke with were satisfied with staffing levels. Staff had received training in care which gave them the skills and knowledge to provide support to people.

Staff managed medicines competently. People told us they felt staff gave them their medicines correctly and when they needed them. We saw they were given as prescribed and stored and disposed of correctly.

People we spoke with told us staff were caring and helpful. They said their health needs were met and staff responded to any requests for assistance promptly.

People told us they were offered a choice of meals. Almost all people we spoke with were positive about the meals. Drinks were available throughout the day and people’s dietary and fluid intake was sufficient for good nutrition.

Staff understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). This enabled staff to work within the law to support people who may lack capacity to make their own decisions.

People we spoke with said staff were caring and respectful, listened to them and assisted them promptly. They said staff supported them to remain as independent as they could be. Staff knew the care people needed, which showed us they were familiar with people’s care needs, and preferences.

Staff recognised the importance of social contact, companionship and activities. Staff supported people to engage in activities and interests in the home.

Care plans were personalised, involved people and where appropriate their relatives and were regularly reviewed.

People told us they knew how to raise a concern or to make a complaint if they were unhappy with something. They said staff were easy to talk to. They said staff were willing to listen which encouraged them to express any ideas or concerns.

There were procedures to monitor the quality of the service. The registered manager sought people’s views in a variety of ways and dealt with any issues of quality quickly and appropriately.

People told us that they were treated with respect and were always involved in making decisions about their care and support. One person said 'I don't want to make a song and dance about it but this is an excellent home'. They told us that they had been involved in a thorough assessment of their needs and staff had read their care plans to them. Another person said 'this home is clean, warm and comfortable and we are well taken care of.'

We looked at the care records for three of the people who lived at the home and could see that arrangements made for their care and support were centred on their individual needs and personal preferences.

We observed staff carrying out their duties and responsibilities in good humour and in a relaxed and positive manner. We could see that staff enjoyed good relationships with the people who lived at the home and had sufficient time to meet their health and social care needs without hurrying.