Archived: Woodlands

Woodlands provides of a range of services for up to six people with a learning disability. At the time of our inspection there were six people using the service. The home is in a residential area close to local amenities. The home has a large accessible garden with parking to the front.

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 who lived at the home, their relatives and staff told us people were safe. There were systems and processes in place to protect people from the risk of harm. These included thorough staff recruitment, staff training and systems for safeguarding people from abuse.

There were enough suitably trained staff to meet people's individual care needs. We saw staff spent time with people and provided assistance to people who needed it. Staff were available to support people to go on trips or visits within the local community.

People were supported to keep healthy. Any changes to their health or wellbeing were acted upon and referrals were made to social and healthcare professionals to help keep people safe and well. Accidents and incidents were responded to quickly. Medicines were managed safely and people had their medicines at the times they needed them.

Staff followed the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) to ensure that people's rights were protected where they were unable to make decisions.

Staff were patient, attentive and caring in their approach; they took time to listen and to respond in a way that the person they engaged with understood. They respected people's privacy and upheld their dignity when providing care and support.

There were effective systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of service through a programme of audits and checks.

There was an open and inclusive atmosphere in the service and the manager showed effective leadership. People at the service, their relatives and staff were provided with opportunities to make their wishes known and to have their voice heard. Staff spoke positively about how the manager worked with them and encouraged team working.

The home had a spacious environment and communal areas where observation of interactions and care provision was easily seen. People had their own rooms and one person was happy to show us their room. This was decorated to their own taste.

There was a high ratio of experienced staff, able to demonstrate safeguarding systems. There was high staff ratio enabling immediate support if required. There was a hand held telephone always carried by a member of staff, so attending the office was not always necessary, therefore staff numbers, access and visibility meant response to needs could be met quickly.

Staff were able to show current documentation, were aware of risk assessments, emergency procedures and incident debriefing.There was professional development for all staff ensuring up to date management and care of people who use services. Complaints procedures were in place.

People who use the service had personalised care plans, where involved in aspects of meal planning, activities and holidays. Family communication and visits were frequent.

We were told by one of the family members that "staff go above and beyond their roles", "always make families feel welcome" and that "staff are able to support people with complex needs".

We spent time observing how staff interacted and supported people. We saw staff treating people with respect and involving them in activities throughout the time we spent at the service. People appeared relaxed and happy involved in activities.

We found that the service supported people to be included and make choices, utilising pictures and symbols, for example symbols of condiments being visible on the fridge doors to help people identify where the item was stored and pictorial menu choices for planning menus.

We looked around the service and saw bedrooms had been personalised and communal areas, bathrooms and toilets were clean.