Archived: Woodlands

Updated 9 September 2016

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 20 and 21 July 2016 and was unannounced.

The inspection was conducted by one inspector.

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 other information that we held about the service, such as notifications of serious incidents, safeguarding concerns and deaths that the provider is required to send us by law. We used this information to assist us in the planning of our inspection.

During our inspection we spoke with two people who lived in the home, one relative, six staff and the manager. We looked at the records of three people, four staff files, training records, complaints and compliments, accidents and incidents recordings, medication records, and quality audits.

We contacted two health care professionals for feedback about the service but at the time of writing this report we had not received any response.

Updated 9 September 2016

The inspection took place on 20 and 21 July 2016 and was unannounced.

Woodlands provides of a range of services for up to six people with a learning disability. At the time of our inspection there were six people using the service. The home is in a residential area close to local amenities. The home has a large accessible garden with parking to the front.

There was 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.

People who lived at the home, their relatives and staff told us people were safe. There were systems and processes in place to protect people from the risk of harm. These included thorough staff recruitment, staff training and systems for safeguarding people from abuse.

There were enough suitably trained staff to meet people's individual care needs. We saw staff spent time with people and provided assistance to people who needed it. Staff were available to support people to go on trips or visits within the local community.

People were supported to keep healthy. Any changes to their health or wellbeing were acted upon and referrals were made to social and healthcare professionals to help keep people safe and well. Accidents and incidents were responded to quickly. Medicines were managed safely and people had their medicines at the times they needed them.

Staff followed the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) to ensure that people's rights were protected where they were unable to make decisions.

Staff were patient, attentive and caring in their approach; they took time to listen and to respond in a way that the person they engaged with understood. They respected people's privacy and upheld their dignity when providing care and support.

There were effective systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of service through a programme of audits and checks.

There was an open and inclusive atmosphere in the service and the manager showed effective leadership. People at the service, their relatives and staff were provided with opportunities to make their wishes known and to have their voice heard. Staff spoke positively about how the manager worked with them and encouraged team working.