• Care Home
  • Care home

Woodhorn Park

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Woodhorn Road, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9AN (01670) 812333

Provided and run by:
Barchester Healthcare Homes Limited

All Inspections

24 January 2023

During an inspection looking at part of the service

About the service

Woodhorn Park is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 61 people across two floors in a purpose-built building. The service provides support to people living with dementia and those requiring support with personal care. At the time of our inspection there were 59 people using the service.

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

People were safe from the risk of abuse. Risks to people were assessed and regularly reviewed when people's needs changed. The building was well maintained, and health and safety risks were assessed.

Medicines were managed safely. The provider employed sufficient staff, staff were trained appropriately and recruited safely. Staff worked effectively with visiting professionals. Infection control measures were in place, and visiting was managed safely.

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 said staff were very caring and kind. People were supported to maintain their independence and were treated with dignity and respect.

There was a positive culture. Staff and relatives said the management team were supportive. Quality assurance checks were taking place, lessons had been learnt and improvements were made continuously.

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 29 March 2022).

The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations 9, 10 and 17.

At our last inspection we recommended that the provider ensured they were following best practice guidance for recruitment. At this inspection we found that improvements had been made.

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced inspection of this service on 13 January 2022. Breaches of legal requirements were found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve person-centred care, dignity and respect and good governance.

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the key questions safe, caring and well-led which contain those requirements.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last comprehensive inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

We looked at infection prevention and control 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 assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Woodhorn Park on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

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

13 January 2022

During an inspection looking at part of the service

About the service

Woodhorn Park is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 61 people. At the time of our inspection 58 people were resident at the home. Accommodation is available across two floors which have adapted facilities to meet people’s needs. The first floor of the home provides specialist support for people living with a dementia related condition.

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

The service was not always well-led. Systems had not always been effective in identifying issues to help drive improvements within the service. There were gaps in the records to evidence government guidance was followed in relation to testing for COVID-19.

The providers visiting policy was not in line with government guidance and placed additional restrictions on people. This had negatively impacted upon the well-being of some people. People, or where appropriate, their representative had not been involved in the decision-making process for visiting restrictions. Staff demonstrated kind and caring values and treated people with respect.

Systems were in place to safeguard people from abuse and staff understood how to escalate any concerns they had. Analysis of accidents and incidents were taking place to assess if any learning from incidents could be made. During the inspection the home manager introduced a new system for reviewing safeguarding records which included communicating outcomes to the staff team. Medicine records were not always accurately maintained.

There were enough staff deployed to meet people’s needs and systems were in place to recruit staff safely. There were some gaps in records to show candidates suitability had been robustly assessed. We have made a recommendation about this.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 5 December 2019).

Why we inspected

We undertook a targeted inspection to follow up on specific concerns we had received about the service. The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about visiting restrictions at the home which were not in line with government guidance. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

We inspected and found there was a concern with the visiting arrangements, so we widened the scope of the inspection to become a focused inspection which included the key questions of safe, caring and well-led.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to monitor the service and will take further action if needed.

We identified breaches in relation to person centred care, dignity and respect and good governance at this inspection. Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.

29 October 2020

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Woodhorn Park is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 61 older people, some of whom have a dementia related condition. The home is a purpose-built facility with care supported over two floors.

We found the following examples of good practice.

¿ Systems were in place to help prevent people, staff and visitors from catching and spreading infection. A visiting suite with screen and intercom system had been built to facilitate safe visiting.

¿ There was sufficient PPE such as aprons, gloves and masks. Staff were wearing this appropriately when we visited. Staff had undertaken training in putting on and taking off PPE.

¿ The registered manager spoke very positively about the hard work and dedication staff had shown throughout the pandemic. Systems were in place to help ensure the health and wellbeing of staff were supported.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

7 October 2019

During a routine inspection

About the service

Woodhorn Park is a residential care home providing personal care to 58 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 61 people.

The home is a purpose-built facility with care supported over two floors. The upper floor of the home is designated as the ‘Memory Lane’ unit, providing help and assistance to people living with dementia or other mental health conditions.

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

People told us they felt safe when being supported by staff. The provider had dealt with any safeguarding concerns appropriately. People were protected from harm as risks had been assessed and plans put in place to mitigate these. There were enough staff to delivery care appropriately and medicines were managed safely and effectively. The home was maintained in a clean and tidy manner.

People told us their care needs had been assessed and support provided met these needs. Staff were supported to maintain good levels of knowledge and training. People said they enjoyed the food at the home and their dietary requirements were well catered for. There was good access to a range of health and social care services. 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. The environment of the home had been designed and adapted to meet people’s needs, including particular environmental adaptions for people living with memory loss.

People told us they were exceptionally well supported, and that staff worked hard to deliver care that was highly individual. Professionals praised the service highly and told us the care was of an excellent quality. A significant number of people and relatives described the care as outstanding. People were actively involved in care decisions and reviews. Staff understood about protecting people’s privacy and dignity and helping to maintain people’s independence.

Care records were well maintained and clearly identified people’s preferences and likes and dislikes. Thought had been given to people’s communication and alternative methods of displaying information. There was access to a wide range of activities and people were well supported to maintain relationships. The provider had responded appropriately to complaints. People received kind and compassionate end of life care.

People, professionals and staff all praised the registered manager highly and said she had made significant improvements at the home. A range of quality audits and checks were in place to ensure care was delivered to an appropriate level. People and staff told us they were able to input into decisions about the running of the home. The service worked in partnership with a number of other services.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 7 April 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Woodhorn Park on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

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

25 January 2017

During a routine inspection

Woodhorn Park is a residential care home close to the centre of Ashington. The service provides care for up to 60 people, over two floors. There were 57 people using the service at the time of the inspection; with 27 people cared for on the ground floor residential unit, and 30 people in the upstairs 'Memory Lane' unit for people living with dementia.

The inspection took place on 25 January and 3 February 2017 and was unannounced. A previous inspection in September 2015 found three breaches of legal requirements.

A registered manager was in post. 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.

At the previous inspection we found that risks to the health and safety of people who used the service had not always been assessed and mitigated. At this inspection we found improvements in this area. Individual risks to people were assessed and reviewed regularly. Checks on the safety of the premises and equipment were also carried out and staff demonstrated an awareness of maintaining a safe environment as they worked.

The premises were clean and staff were aware of procedures to follow to prevent the spread of infection. Suitable personal protective equipment such as gloves and aprons were readily available, and cleaning chemicals were safely stored.

There were mixed views about the number of staff on duty. The registered manager was staffing the service in line with the dependency assessment rating tool used by the provider, although she had identified certain times of the day that could be very busy and had requested additional staff hours. We found that staffing on the ground floor, up to and including the lunch time period was insufficient to consistently meet the demands of people in a timely manner. Immediately following our inspection additional staff hours were agreed and an additional staff member was deployed without delay to support this busy period. Due to the concerns raised about staffing we made a recommendation that staffing remains under review.

Medicines were managed safely. There were suitable procedures in place for the ordering, receipt, storage and administration of medicines. Staff competency to administer medicines safely was assessed on a regular basis, and medicine audits were carried out internally and by the dispensing pharmacy.

Safeguarding policies and procedures were in place, and staff were aware of what to do in the event of concerns of a safeguarding nature. Suitable staff recruitment procedures were in place which helped to protect people from abuse.

At the last inspection we found that support provided at mealtimes was not always person centred. At this inspection, we found that improvements had been made in this area. Staff supported people to make choices by providing written menus and visual aids. The individual needs and preferences of people were supported including people receiving meals in their bedroom. Nutritional risks were assessed and appropriate advice sought for people at risk of malnutrition.

Staff received regular training considered mandatory by the provider. Clear records of training were maintained. Additional specialist training related to people's individual psychological and physical needs was also provided. Staff received regular supervision and annual appraisal, and told us they felt well supported.

At the last inspection, we found that improvements had been made to the environment in the Memory Lane unit, for people living with dementia. At this inspection, we found that there had been further improvements with more planned. People's bedrooms were personalised and homely.

The service was operating within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) (MCA). MCA care plans were in place, and decisions taken in people's best interests were appropriately recorded.

The health needs of people were met. Visiting professionals told us they were asked to see people in a timely manner, and that staff acted upon the advice they gave. Records showed a variety of health professionals visited people on a regular basis.

Staff were observed to be kind, caring, attentive and respectful in their communication with people. They knew people well and could describe the care people needed to help them to feel safe and relaxed. A number of people and visitors commented on the warm and welcoming atmosphere in the home, and the friendly and helpful approach of staff.

At the last inspection, we found that care plans were not always followed by staff. At this inspection, we found that person centred care plans were in place which were up to date and regularly reviewed. We saw no evidence of these being contradicted. People and relatives were involved in the care planning process where possible.

A range of activities were available. These were well organised and catered for varying needs, interests and level of ability. People were supported to make choices and to remain as independent as possible.

At the last inspection, we found that not all aspects of the service were well led, as some of the issues we identified had not been picked up through routine audits by the registered manager. At this inspection, we found that systems to monitor the quality and safety of the premises had improved. There were feedback mechanisms in place to obtain the views of people, relatives and staff. There were good links locally with people having the opportunity for trips into the community, and planned events in the home involving the local community.

Notifications of events the provider is obliged to notify us of, were sent to CQC in line with legal requirements.

15, 16 and 17 September 2015

During a routine inspection

Woodhorn Park is a care home located in Ashington which can accommodate up to 60 people. At the time of our inspection 51 people received care from the service, some of whom were living with dementia.

This inspection took place on 15, 16 and 17 September 2015. The inspection was unannounced.

The last inspection we carried out at this service was in July 2013 when we found the provider was meeting all of the regulations we inspected at that time

A registered manager was 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.

Risks were not always appropriately managed. Some risks had been assessed and action taken to minimise the impact of those risks. However, during our inspection we saw people were at risk of tripping due to tools which had been left in a communal area of the home. Risks to people’s safety and skin integrity had also not been mitigated.

People we spoke with told us they felt safe living at the home. Staff had undertaken safeguarding training in how to recognise and respond to any potential abuse.

Accidents and incidents were analysed to determine where action should be taken to reduce the likelihood of reoccurrence. Medicines were well managed.

There were enough staff to meet people’s needs and recruitment processes had been followed to confirm new employee’s identities and previous employment details.

Staff training was up to date. Staff received basic training in dementia care. However, observations showed this training was not consistently put into place. Staff met regularly with their supervisors to discuss their role and personal development.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is required by law to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) including the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), and to report on what we find. Staff we spoke with, including the registered manager had a good understanding of the MCA. Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards had been applied for and approval granted.

People who were able to communicate their views spoke highly of the food provided in the home. However, we saw food served to some people who were cared for in bed was not always appetising. Whilst the chef was aware of people’s individual nutrition needs, steps had not been taken to ensure these were met.

Some adaptations had been made to the environment to take into consideration the needs of people living with dementia. However, visual signage around the home was poor.

People told us staff were very caring and kind. Care records were personal and included information about what was important to people. We saw that the majority of staff responded well when people were distressed.

Relatives told us they always felt welcome at the home and people described how staff supported them to maintain relationships with their family and to be independent.

Staff had received training in end of life care, and those people who wished to, had considered and planned for how they would like to be cared for as they approached the end of their lives.

People’s needs had not always been met. We saw examples where planned care, related to people’s continence and moving and handling needs was not delivered as it was described their care records. Records showed some people received inconsistent care.

Records were not always accurate, complete or stored securely.

A range of activities were available in the home, and people we spoke with told us they enjoyed taking part in these. Complaints records showed complaints had been fully investigated and responded to. People’s feedback on the quality of the service they received was welcomed through satisfaction surveys and regular meetings.

People and relatives spoke highly of the registered manager. They told us she was approachable and that the service was well-led. Staff confirmed this, telling us she was a visible presence in the home and always available for them to talk to.

Feedback from staff was valued. They were asked to share their views on the home during regular staff meetings.

A range of audits were carried out to assess and monitor the quality of the service, however these had not identified the shortfalls in care delivery or in record keeping that we had found during our inspection. The manager acknowledged that care records audits should be carried out more frequently.

The home had built relationships with the local community.

We found three breaches of regulations. These related to the Safe Care and Treatment, Person Centred Care and Good Governance. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.

26 July 2013

During a routine inspection

At the time of our visit the home had a nominated manager who was not registered with us. This person was off duty and the deputy manager was in charge of the home. We were later told the manager had applied to register with us.

We talked to two visitors and three people.

We found people of varied needs and abilities were all involved in making decisions about their care as far as they were able. Their representatives were also involved, where possible and appropriate. People's independence and community involvement was promoted. One person said, "I like it here, I think it is quite settled, it is working out well, I am getting to know them and they are getting to know me."

We found the provider acted in accordance with people's wishes and the legal requirements regarding people's consent to care and treatment. People's care needs were assessed and care was planned and reviewed regularly. Care was delivered safely and in line with the care plans and people were happy with their care. One person said, "This is a nice home, the staff are good, there are activities and we have a car that is used to take people out for short trips."

We found the provider had taken steps to raise staff awareness about abuse of vulnerable people, to encourage staff to report concerns and prevent abuse occurring.

We found that the record keeping ensured people had their care delivered safely and maintained confidentiality.

1 November 2012

During a routine inspection

People who had capacity told us they were asked for their consent to care and treatment. Two visitors said that they had been asked to be involved in giving consent on behalf of a relative for the recent flu vaccination. We found that for some people who had refused treatment and care their capacity to do so had not been taken into account. Therefore it was unclear whether this was or was not in their best interests

People told us they enjoyed the food. One person commented, 'The food is brilliant, it reminds me of when I was younger.' Another person said, 'The food is lovely and we always have plenty to eat and drink. We can have a full breakfast." We found that people were provided with a choice of suitable and nutritious food and drink.

People and relatives, who we spoke with, told us that they were happy with the care provided. One relative said, 'The place is very good, the staff are obliging, they have arranged for a walking aid so mum is more independent now, they pick up on when a doctor is needed, or an optician or chiropodist, there are trips out and things to do, we are delighted with the care Mum gets.' We found that people's needs were assessed and care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with their individual care plan.

We found that people's complaints were fully investigated and there were enough staff to meet people's needs. We found that some people's records were not up to date or held securely.

2 November 2011

During a routine inspection

We spoke with people to gain their views about living in the home. People said they liked living at the home. They said staff were helpful and kind. They said they were given choices about things that were important to them, such as food and daily routines. People we spoke with said they knew to contact the manager if they had any concerns about the care provided at the home. One relative spoken with said they would like to see more activities available for people.