Woodville Place

Updated 13 November 2021

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 Care Act 2014.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection prevention and control 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 was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Woodville Place is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service did have a manager registered with CQC. The registered manager and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

We gave 24 hours’ notice of the inspection because infection prevention and control arrangements had to be agreed with the provider and put in place prior to our visit; this helped to mitigate the risk of any cross contamination or transmission of Covid-19.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service and sought feedback from the local authority who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with a senior manager, registered manager, two members of staff, two people living at Woodville Place, two relatives about their experiences of care provided to their loved ones and two external healthcare professionals.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records, medication administration records and two personnel files of staff who had been recruited since the last inspection. We also reviewed a variety of records relating to the management and governance of the service, including policies and procedures.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at audit and governance data, as well as infection prevention and control policies and procedures.

Updated 13 November 2021

About the service

Woodville Place is a ‘care home’, providing accommodation, nursing and/or personal care for up to four younger adults with sensory impairments, learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorders. Accommodation was provided across two adjoined houses, over three floors. At the time of the inspection four people were living at the service.

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

Staff were thoroughly inducted into their roles, received regular supervision and supported on a daily basis. However, we noted that training completion statistics required attention. We have made a recommendation regarding training compliance oversight.

Infection prevention and control (IPC) measures were generally in place. Staff were engaged in a regular COVID-19 testing regime, screening procedures were in place for visitors and PPE was accessible and available for staff. We have signposted the provider to some best practice guidance in relation to IPC.

Regulatory compliance certificates were in place. People lived in a safe and secure environment that was well maintained. Health and safety checks were generally completed on a weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual basis. We did note that some weekly checks were missing. This was brought to the managers attention.

Safeguarding and whistleblowing procedures were in place and people were protected from avoidable harm and abuse. 92.3% of staff had completed safeguarding training and staff knew how to escalate any concerns. One relative told us, “There are measures in place to keep [person] safe, the staff really, really care.”

People received a safe level of care that was tailored around their support needs and areas of risk. Care plans and risk assessments contained up to date, consistent and relevant information. People received support from a dedicated team of staff who were familiar with the support that needed to be provided and how risks needed to be managed.

Safe medication practices were in place. Staff received the necessary medication training, medication audits were regularly completed, and staff compliance and competency levels were routinely monitored.

Safe staffing levels and recruitment procedures were in place. People received care and support by a staff team who were suitably recruited into their positions. We observed kind, compassionate and a considerate level of care being provided. It was evident that positive, trusting relationships had developed and people were empowered to live as independently as possible.

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.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. 'Right support, right care, right culture' is the statutory guidance which supports The Care Quality Commission (CQC) to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

This service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the principles of right support, right care, right culture. People’s choice, control and independence was supported. Personalised care was provided, staff promoted people’s dignity, privacy and human rights and the ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of leaders and care staff ensured that people using the service lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives.

Overall governance and quality assurance systems and measures were in place. The quality and safety of care was routinely monitored, assessed and developed upon; such measures ensured that a good provision of care was maintained. We did highlight a number of areas that required greater oversight, the manager was responsive to our feedback.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was ‘good’ (published 10 January 2020)

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection as part of a random selection of services rated Good and Outstanding to test the reliability of our new monitoring approach.

We looked at infection prevention and control (IPC) measures under the ‘Safe’ key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurances that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to our inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.