Background to this inspection
Updated
10 July 2021
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.
As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.
Inspection team
The inspection was completed by three inspectors, one assistant 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
Woodcot Lodge is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a 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.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service.
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with five people who used the service and 17 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 11 members of staff including the provider, registered manager, registered nurses, senior care workers, care workers, the chef and maintenance manager. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.
We reviewed a range of records. This included eight people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at eight files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.
Updated
10 July 2021
About the service
Woodcot Lodge is a care home registered to provide personal and nursing care for up to 85 people. The home is for people who require a short assessment of needs period when discharged from hospital prior to being returned to their own home or transferred to another care setting. At the time of this inspection there were 57 people in the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Care and treatment were planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people's safety and welfare. People were cared for safely by staff who had been recruited and employed after the required checks had been completed. Staff had received appropriate training. There were systems in place to minimise the risk of infection and to learn lessons from accidents and incidents. Medication was dispensed by staff who had received training to do so.
The home was generally clean and well maintained. However, we identified some areas which required attention. The registered manager told us these areas were being addressed in their development plan.
The registered manager had a good understanding of their responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.
People were supported to eat and drink enough to ensure they maintained a balanced diet and referrals to other health professionals were made when required.
We spent time observing staff interacting with people who used the service and found they were kind and caring. People's relatives we spoke with spoke highly of the care and support their family member received.
The registered manager responded to complaints received in a timely manner. People were supported to make plans for the end of their life. The registered manager had systems in place to monitor and provide good care and these were reviewed on a regular basis.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 15 June 2020 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about staffing levels in the home, infection control, poor communication and attention to personal hygiene. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.
We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.
We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from these concerns. Please see the full report which details our findings.
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.