Willow Lodge Nursing Home

Updated 14 March 2020

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.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Willow Lodge Nursing Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we held about the service. This included notifications the provider is required by law to send us about events that happen within the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.

During the inspection

We spoke with five people and three relatives of people who lived at the service. We spoke with four staff, the chef, proprietor and registered manager. We reviewed seven people’s care records and six staff files. We also looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including audits, policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We also contacted two healthcare professionals to gather their views about the service.

Updated 14 March 2020

About the service

Willow Lodge Nursing Home is a care home providing nursing and personal care for up to 27 people, some of whom may be living with dementia. The service is provided in one adapted building. At the time of our inspection 25 people were using the service.

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

The registered manager and staff managed people’s risks and protected them from abuse. Robust recruitment processes were in place to ensure that staff were safe and suitable. People’s medicines were stored, administered and recorded appropriately. Staff followed good hygiene practices to control the risk and spread of infection.

People had their needs assessed and were supported by staff who were supervised and trained. People ate well and were supported to remain healthy by accessing healthcare services whenever they needed to. Where people lacked capacity, staff followed the appropriate processes to ensure that restrictions in place to keep people safe were lawful and regularly reviewed. 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 service had an established and stable staff team who knew people well. People and their relatives told us that staff were caring and kind. People’s privacy and dignity were maintained, and their cultural and spiritual needs were met.

The care provided to people was personalised. People and their relatives were involved in care planning and activities were available for people to participate in. People were supported to avoid social isolation and relatives were welcomed to the home. The registered manager used complaints to improve the quality of the service. Staff ensured people received dignified and compassionate care as they approached end of life.

People, relatives and staff were positive in their comments about the registered manager and leadership team. A programme of renovation, refurbishment and redecoration was underway at the service. Management plans were also in place to improve the frequency of activities for people outside of the service and their dining experience at the care home. The provider worked in partnership with others and promoted an open culture at the service.

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 11 November 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.