We carried out a review of the data available to us about Willow Lodge Nursing Home 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 Willow Lodge Nursing Home, you can give feedback on this 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.
Since our last inspection of Willow Lodge Nursing Home in July 2014 the service has been taken over by a new provider Heatherwood Nursing Home Ltd. The home was re-registered by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in November 2016. Consequently, this inspection represents the service’s inaugural inspection and rating.
The service is required to have a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are 'registered persons'. Registered persons have a legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run. The previous registered manager left the service in January 2017. A new permanent home manager was appointed immediately and at the time of this inspection was waiting to hear the outcome of their registered manager application to the CQC.
People and their relatives told us they were happy with the care the service provided at Willow Lodge. We saw staff looked after people in a way which was kind and caring. Staff had built caring and friendly relationships with people and their relatives. Our discussions with people living in the home, their relatives and community health care professionals supported this.
There were robust procedures in place to safeguard people from harm and abuse. Staff were familiar with how to recognise and report abuse. The provider assessed and managed risks to people’s safety in a way that considered their individual needs. Recruitment procedures were designed to prevent people from being cared for by unsuitable staff. There were enough staff to keep people safe. The premises and equipment were safe for people to use because managers and staff routinely carried out health and safety checks. Medicines were managed safely and people received them as prescribed.
Staff received appropriate training and support to ensure they had the knowledge and skills needed to perform their roles effectively. People were supported to eat and drink enough to meet their dietary needs and preferences. They also received the support they needed to stay healthy and to access healthcare services.
People received personalised support that was responsive to their individual needs. Each person had an up to date and personalised care plan, which set out how their care and support needs should be met by staff. This meant people were supported by staff who knew them well and understood their needs, preferences and interests. We saw staff were caring and treated people well and ensured their privacy and dignity were met. Staff also encouraged people to actively participate in meaningful leisure activities that reflected their social interests and to maintain relationships with people that mattered to them.
The new home manager provided good leadership. People felt comfortable raising any issues they might have about the home with the manager. The service had arrangements in place to deal with people’s concerns and complaints appropriately. The provider also routinely gathered feedback from people living in the home, their relatives and staff. This feedback alongside the provider’s own audits and quality checks was used to continually assess, monitor and improve the quality of the service they provided.