The Willows Nursing Home

Updated 24 June 2024

The assessment started on 22 August 2024 and ended on 31 August 2024. We carried out an unannounced visit to the service on 29 August 2024. The Willows Nursing Home is a care home for up to 28 older people. At the time of our assessment, 24 people were living at the home. The rating at the last inspection, (published 28 October 2022) was good. The assessment took place to follow up on concerns others had shared with us about the negative impact and safety concerns due to building works that were taking place. We found that the provider had addressed the safety concerns and had worked with other professionals to help make sure the impact on people using the service was minimised. We have rated the service good and found they were meeting the required standards. We found some improvements were needed to records, and some processes. We discussed these with the registered manager, and they told us they were taking action to make the improvements.

Updated 24 June 2024

As part of our assessment, we conducted an unannounced visit to the service. We spoke with 3 people who used the service and 1 visiting relative. We spoke with a further 3 relatives on the telephone. We spoke with 2 external professionals and 1 volunteer who worked with the service. We met staff on duty who included the registered manager. We observed how people were being cared for and supported. Our observations included 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 looked at a range of records, carried out an assessment of the environment and equipment and we looked at how medicines were being managed. The assessment was carried out by 2 inspectors, a regulatory coordinator, a nurse specialist advisor, 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. People using the service and their relatives were happy with the care they received. Some people gave us examples about how their health and wellbeing had improved at the service. People liked the staff and had good relationships with them. Staff treated people well and were kind, considerate and polite. People looked comfortable, relaxed and took part in a variety of activities.