Archived: The Willows

Updated 10 August 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

The inspection took place on 22 May 2018 and was announced. This was because the service is a small service and we needed to make sure people would be in when we arrived. It was also so that the provider had time to arrange for sufficient numbers of staff to be deployed on the day to facilitate the inspection without disrupting people's daily routines.

One inspector and an expert by experience undertook this inspection. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also reviewed previous inspection reports and notifications received from the service before the inspection. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. This enabled us to ensure we were addressing any potential areas of concern.

We looked at care records for all four people, medication administration records (MAR), a number of policies and procedures, staff files, staff training, induction and supervision records, staff rotas, complaints records, accident and incident records, audits and minutes of meetings.

During our inspection, we observed care and spoke with three people living at the service. We also spoke with the registered manager and all staff on duty. Following the inspection, we spoke with four relatives.

The Willows was last inspected in February 2016 and was rated Good. At this inspection we found that the service remained Good.

Updated 10 August 2018

The inspection took place on 22 May 2018 and was announced. This was because the service is a

small service and we needed to make sure people would be in when we arrived. It was also so that the provider had time to arrange for sufficient numbers of staff to be deployed on the day to facilitate the inspection without disrupting people's daily routines.

The Willows was last inspected in February 2016 and was rated Good.

The Willows 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 Willows accommodates four adults with learning disabilities and complex needs. The service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

The service had a registered manager in place. 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 service had a positive culture that was person-centred, open and inclusive. There was a strong emphasis on putting people first. All relatives spoke highly regarding the staff and their attention to detail.

The service was well led. Staff were enthusiastic and keen to talk about their role. Staff were proud of the service and their work. They felt supported within their roles and held the management team in high regard. Recruitment practices were robust and staff received training appropriate to their role and the needs of the people living at the service.

The registered manager was aware of their legal responsibilities and kept up to date with current good practice. She was committed to raising awareness of people with autism. She was passionate about improving the quality of life for people with autism within the wider community by educating people about their specialist needs and the challenges people with autism face.

Staff put people at the centre of everything they did. People were involved in the service within their capabilities. People assisted with meal preparation and carried out some domestic chores with staff support.

Relatives told us that they were kept fully informed. People were supported to maintain contact with their relatives.

People had comprehensive plans of care and risk assessments. Care was individualised and person centred with a focus on independence, achieving goals and wishes. Medicines were managed safely and in people’s best interests.