Woodleigh

Woodleigh is a single-storey care home that provides accommodation and personal care for up to 39 older people, some of whom are living with dementia. Accommodation is split across five separate ‘units’, each offering bathroom facilities, dining areas and a garden area. The location also includes the provision of short-term breaks (respite) care services for up eight adults with learning disabilities. At the time of the inspection 37 people were living in the home and eight people were receiving respite care.

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

People received support from staff who had been appropriately recruited. Staffing levels were assessed according to the dependency support needs of people living at Woodleigh; we observed some areas of development in relation to staff support and the deployment of staff during the inspection.

Woodleigh offered spacious communal, lounge and garden areas. We identified some internal and external areas of improvement that were required. The registered managers were responsive and put measures in place to assess and monitor the home and its grounds.

People received support that was tailored around their support needs and areas of risk were regularly reviewed and monitored. Risk assessments helped to identify specific areas of support that people required.

Staff demonstrated their understanding of safeguarding and whistleblowing procedures. We saw up to date policies and procedure in place and people were protected from avoidable harm and abuse.

Safe medication administration processes were in place. People received support with their medication by staff who had been appropriately trained and regularly had their competency levels checked.

Staff received regular supervision and were supported daily by the registered managers. The registered managers maintained a good level of oversight in relation to training compliance.

People received a holistic level of care in relation to their healthcare support needs. We saw that appropriate referrals were made to external professionals when needed.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported people in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

We observed staff providing kind, compassionate and dignified care. People were also supported to remain as independent as possible and encouraged to make decisions about aspects of their care.

The registered managers and staff promoted and celebrated people’s equality and diversity support needs. We saw that measures were in place to provide an inclusive environment where people were treated dignity and respect.

A dedicated activities co-ordinator was in post at Woodleigh. They helped to arrange activities that were tailored around people’s likes and preferences.

The registered provider had an up to date complaints policy in place. Complaints were responded to in line with company policy and were reviewed monthly as a way of establishing trends and areas of improvement.

The registered provider had processes in place to monitor and assess the quality and safety of care people received. During the inspection, quality assurance processes were further strengthened to capture some of the areas of development we identified.

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 26 January 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.

This was the first inspection of Woodleigh following a change of service provider in March 2015.

Woodleigh is a single-storey building that provides accommodation and personal care for up to 47 older people, some of whom are living with dementia. The location includes the provision of short term breaks (respite) care services for up to eight older people and eight adults with a learning disability. A supported tenancies service for up to 16 people is also coordinated from the premises.

The service is provided by Catalyst Choices Community Interest Company, a non-profit making organisation. The company has a board of directors, comprising of employed executives and independent non-executive directors.

At the time of our inspection the service was accommodating a total of 40 people in Woodleigh. A further 15 people were receiving support within the supported living service.

At the time of the inspection there was no registered manager in day-to-day charge of Woodleigh. 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 day-to-day management of operations at Woodleigh, the short term breaks and supported living service were being provided collectively by four area coordinators with support from senior management. This arrangement was to continue pending the appointment of a new manager.

We found that the provider had not notified the CQC of any incidents or suspicion of abuse in relation to people using the service. We have written to the provider regarding their failure to notify the CQC.

Woodleigh and the supported living service presented as warm and friendly environments in which to live. People using the service and / or their representatives told us that they were treated with dignity by staff and confirmed the diversity, values and human rights of people were respected. People confirmed that their personal care needs were also met and that their personal choices and preferences were respected.

Staff were observed to apply their knowledge and understanding of people’s personalities, preferences, needs and support requirements through positive and meaningful interactions. Staff were seen to be patient and gentle in their approach and warm personal interactions between staff and people using the service were noted. People spoken with showed a relaxed disposition and were at ease with their care staff.

The service had established a person centred approach to care planning. We saw evidence that people had undergone an assessment of their needs and that plans had been developed to ensure an appropriate response to identified needs and risks. This helped to safeguard the health and wellbeing of people using the service.

People had access to a range of one to one and group activities that were facilitated by an activity coordinator or staff within the service.

People had access to health care professionals and medication was ordered, stored, administered and disposed of safely by trained staff that had undergone an assessment of their competency periodically.

People had access to a choice of menu which offered a varied, balanced and wholesome diet.

Staff recruitment systems were in place and information about prospective employees had been obtained to make sure staff did not pose a risk to people using the service.

The provider had developed policies relating to the MCA (Mental Capacity Act (2005) and DoLS (Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards). The management team and staff understood their duty of care in relation to this protective legislation and rights of people living in the home.

Audits had been established to monitor service operations and systems were in place to safeguard people from abuse and to respond to complaints.

Staff had access to induction, training and supervision to develop the necessary skills and competence for their roles.