We carried out a review of the data available to us about Woodlands on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Woodlands, you can give feedback on this service.
Woodlands is a residential care home and provides accommodation and personal care for up to 28 older people and people living with dementia in one adapted building. At the time of our inspection there were 26 people living at Woodlands.
We found the following examples of good practice.
Staff used their infection prevention and control (IPC) practice and training to good effect by adopting social distancing, having regular temperature tests and wearing their personal protective equipment (PPE) correctly.
The provider had ensured sufficient stocks and supplies of the correct standard of PPE. They participated in regular COVID-19 testing programmes and ensured staff knew how to put on and take off their PPE. There were plans in place to manage any potential future outbreak of COVID-19.
The registered manager adhered to IPC guidance by ensuring people admitted to the service were isolated for 14 days. Items such as individual hoists, bedding and clothing was kept separate from other people and regularly disinfected.
Any items or frequently touched area such as handrails, light switches and furniture was sanitised and cleaned using appropriate materials. There was a cleaning programme in place with deep cleans of people’s, and communal, rooms. There were enough staff who could work in separate groups. Only these staff would care for people who needed to isolate to avoid the risk of cross contamination.
The provider’s policies and audits had embedded a safety culture where all staff and people using the service had been vaccinated. Learning from previous infections had given staff confidence to be safe but to be diligent in maintaining good IPC practice.
Staff supported visits to people under special circumstances and any end of life care. Other means of staying in touch with relatives and friends included the use of window visits, social media and e-mailing photographs.
Woodlands accommodates 28 people in one adapted building.
At the time of our unannounced inspection on 8 November 2017 there were 25 older people and people living with dementia living at the service.
At the last inspection on 1 December 2015, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.
The service has a registered manager. 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.
Staff demonstrated a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.
Processes were in place to ensure that infection control was promoted and the risk of cross contamination was reduced.
The service was currently being refurbished. Some communal areas had been redecorated and other areas were awaiting refurbishment, including the communal bathrooms. The building, although listed, had minor adaptations in place to help people with limited mobility such as ramps, a stair lift and a passenger lift.
Staff were available to support people’s individual needs in a kind and respectful way. People and their relatives were given the opportunity to be involved in the setting up and review of their individual support and care plans. Staff encouraged people to take part in activities. People’s friends and family were encouraged by staff to visit the service and were made welcome.
People were supported by staff and external health care professionals, when required, at the end of their life to have a comfortable and dignified death.
Staff were knowledgeable about how to report suspicions of harm and poor care practice. Pre-employment checks were in place to make sure that new staff were deemed suitable to work with the people they were supporting. People were assisted to take their medicines as prescribed.
People had individualised care and support plans in place which recorded their needs. These plans informed staff on how a person would like care and support to be given, in line with external health care professional advice. Individual risks to people were identified and assessed by staff. Plans were put into place to minimise these risks as far as practicable to enable people to live as safe and independent a life as possible.
People were assisted to access a range of external health care professionals and were supported to maintain their health and well-being. People’s health and nutritional needs were met.
Staff were trained to provide effective care which met people’s individual needs. The standard of staff members’ work performance was reviewed by the registered manager through supervisions, spot checks and appraisals.
The registered manager sought feedback about the quality of the service provided from people and/or their relatives, staff and visiting health professionals. There was an on-going quality monitoring process in place to identify areas of improvement required within the service. Where improvements had been identified, actions were taken. Learning from incidents were discussed at staff meetings to reduce the risk of recurrence.
Records showed that the CQC was informed of incidents that the provider was legally obliged to notify us of.
Further information is in the detailed findings below
This unannounced comprehensive inspection at Woodlands was carried out on 1 December 2015. Woodlands is a care home that provides accommodation and personal care to up to 28 older people, some living with dementia. It is not registered to provide nursing care. There were 27 people living at the home at the time of this visit. There are internal and external communal areas, including dining and lounge areas, a conservatory and a garden for people and their visitors to use. The home is made up of three floors which can be accessed by stairs, a stair lift and a lift. The building is a historic building and some rooms would have been accessible by several steps. Ramps have been put in place of these steps where possible. Four bedrooms are double occupancy rooms which are screened for privacy using portable screens. Two bedrooms are not ensuite with basins only in the rooms. There were communal bathrooms for people to use.
There was a registered manager in place during this inspection. 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.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is required by law to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and report on what we find. Where people had been assessed as lacking capacity to make day-to-day decisions, applications had been made to the local authorising agencies. Staff demonstrated to us that they respected people’s choices about how they wished to be supported. Staff were able to demonstrate a sufficient understanding of MCA and DoLS to ensure that people would not have their freedom restricted in an unlawful manner.
Plans were put in place to reduce people’s identified risks, to enable people to live as independent and safe a life as possible. Arrangements were in place to ensure that people were supported with their prescribed medication. Medication was stored safely. Accurate and complete records of people’s prescribed medication were kept.
People, where needed, were assisted to access a range of external health care professionals and were supported to maintain their health. Staff assisted people to maintain their links with the local community to promote social inclusion. People’s friend and families were encouraged to visit the home and were made to feel welcome. People’s health and nutritional needs were met.
People who used the service were supported by staff in a caring and respectful way. Care and support plans prompted staff on any individual assistance a person may have required as guidance. Records were in place to monitor people’s assessed care and support needs.
People and their relatives were able to raise any suggestions or concerns that they had with the registered manager and staff and they felt listened to.
Staff understood their responsibility to report any poor care practice. There were pre-employment safety checks in place to ensure that all new staff were deemed suitable to work with the people they were supporting. There were enough staff to provide safe care and support.
Staff were trained to provide care which met people’s individual care and support needs. The standard of staff members’ work performance was reviewed through supervisions, appraisals and competency checks. This was to ensure that staff were competent and confident to deliver this care and support.
The registered manager sought feedback about the quality of the service provided from people and their relatives. Staff meetings took place and staff were encouraged to raise any suggestions or concerns that they may have had. Quality monitoring processes to identify areas of improvement required within the service were formally documented with action taken recorded.
We found that care records were current and reflected the needs of people who lived in the home. Staff demonstrated a good understanding and knowledge of the care and support people required.
Procedures were in place which ensured that people who used the service received their medication appropriately and staff had undertaken training.
The premises were well maintained and records showed that appropriate safety checks had taken place on systems and equipment which meant it was safe for people to live in.
There was a recruitment procedure in place which ensured that only people suitable to work with vulnerable people were employed. Staff received a wide range of training which equipped them for their role.
There was a system in place to check that people were satisfied with the service and an effective system to monitor and audit services provided to people who lived in the home.
All of those we spoke with said the food was good and that there were snacks and drinks available to them during the day.
One family member said they would not have been able to cope with their relative without the respite provided by the home and that it was marvellous.
One relative told us that the care staff and manager were very approachable and treated her relative with respect. They also told us that the manager had been invaluable in getting treatment secured for her relative when they were unwell.
People told us that they felt safe at the home and if they had any concerns that they were at risk of abuse, they would inform the manager.
We spoke with one person who shared some personal information that was a potential safeguarding matter. We reported this to the manager and further action was taken.