Woodlands Care Home

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

Safe – this means we looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.

This service scored 72 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The provider had a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. Staff listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice. The provider was open and honest when things went wrong and acted in line with their duty of candour. The management team ensured lessons were learnt when things went wrong. Changes were made to improve practice where required. Accidents and incidents were analysed and trends and patterns identified to mitigate future risks.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed or monitored. They made sure there was continuity of care, including when people moved between different services. The provider had systems in place to ensure appropriate information was passed between services as required. For example, hospital passports were available and kept under review to ensure up to date information was correctly communicated. One relative explained how their family member required more care and so was in the process of moving from the bungalow to the care home. The process was being managed in a considered way. The relative said, “It has been decided that [family member] will go over to the care home each day and get used to being over there before they actual move. I was able to look at a couple of rooms and choose the 1 I felt most appropriate, but [family member] was consulted too.”

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. Staff concentrated on improving people’s lives while protecting their right to live in safety, free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm and neglect. The provider shared concerns quickly and appropriately. Policies and procedures were in place to ensure people were safeguarded from the risk of abuse. Staff were knowledgeable about how to recognise signs of potential abuse and aware of the reporting procedures.

The provider worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. Staff provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them. Risks associated with people’s care were identified and managed through a risk assessment process. Risk assessments were reviewed to ensure future risks were reduced.

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care. Environment checks were completed in line with expected standards and records were maintained. Care plans were in place regarding environmental safety. Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) were in place to ensure people were supported appropriately in the event of an emergency evacuation.

The provider made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. They worked together well to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs. Staff were recruited safely and pre-employment checks were completed to ensure they were suitable to work with vulnerable people. Staff received an induction which included mandatory training and shadowing experienced staff. Staff received ongoing training to ensure they were competent to meet people’s assessed needs. Systems to support and develop staff were in place through regular supervision meetings with their line manager. These meetings gave staff the opportunity to discuss their own personal and professional development, as well as any concerns they may have. People and relatives, we spoke with felt there were sufficient staff with the right skills and competencies to meet the assessed needs of people receiving care and support in the bungalows.

The provider assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly. Staff had access to personal protective equipment (PPE) and used this where appropriate.People and relatives told us staff kept their bungalows clean and wore appropriate personal protective equipment. One relative said, “The carers are often wearing gloves when they are helping people.”

The provider made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Staff involved people in planning, including when changes happened. However, we identified some minor concerns with medicine management. For example, we found a missing protocol and body map for a topical cream and a minor stock count issue and minimal records to document patch rotation for people who require medicine prescribed as a patch. We raised these with the registered manager who took swift and timely action to resolve the concerns. Medicines were stored safely and daily temperatures were recorded of both the medicine storeroom and fridge. The registered manager was in the process of relocating medicines stored in the onsite care home to people’s individual bungalows. Staff received training and support to ensure they were competent in administering medicines safely.