Woodlands Home for Older People

Updated 26 April 2022

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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 carried out by an inspector.

Service and service type

Woodlands Home for Older People is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Woodlands Home for Older People is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service, such as notifications. These are events that happen in the service that the provider is required to tell us about. We also sought feedback from the local authority.

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.

During the inspection

We observed how staff provided support for people to help us better understand their experiences of the care they received. We spoke with eight people using the service, a relative, three members of staff, the senior operations manager and the registered manager.

We had a tour of the building with the registered manager and reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care documentation, two staff files and two people’s medication records. We also reviewed a range of records relating to the management of the service.

After the inspection

The registered manager sent us an analysis of the accident and incident data for March 2022, information about a staff member’s recruitment records, an updated recruitment checklist and confirmation of additional training for staff on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Updated 26 April 2022

Woodlands Home for Older People is a residential care home registered to provide accommodation and nursing care for 50 people. There were 48 people accommodated in the home at the time of the inspection. The home is set in its own grounds in a residential area of Clayton-le-Moors. Accommodation is provided on one level and divided into four distinct areas, known as Ash, Beech, Cedar and Damson. People living with dementia were provided with care and support in the Cedar area of the home.

The service is also registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes. This type of care was only provided in emergency circumstances and was not being provided at the time of the inspection.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People told us they felt safe living in the home, and they were happy with the service provided. Staff understood how to protect people from harm or discrimination and had access to safeguarding adults’ procedures. There were sufficient numbers of staff deployed to meet people's needs and ensure their safety. The provider operated an electronic system for the recruitment of new staff. We found staff had not always provided a full working history. The registered manager agreed to address this issue and following the inspection sent us a copy of a new recruitment checklist.

The home had a satisfactory standard of cleanliness and staff had completed training on the prevention and control of infection. However, staff were not always wearing facemasks appropriately and suitable arrangements had not been made to separate people from a person who was self-isolating following a positive test for coronavirus. The registered manager reminded staff of the importance of current guidance and arranged additional training.

Individual risks had been assessed and recorded, however, we found one person’s risk assessment had not been updated following a fall. People received their medicines safely and were supported to maintain good nutrition and hydration. 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 supported this practice. However, there was limited information in people’s files about restrictions on their liberty. People’s needs were assessed prior to them using the service.

The provider had appropriate arrangements to ensure staff received training relevant to their role. New staff completed an induction training programme. Staff felt supported by the registered manager and the management team.

People were happy with the way the service was managed and staff told us they enjoyed working at the home. The registered manager and the management team monitored the quality of the service provided to help ensure people received effective care.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 14 May 2019). We also carried out a targeted inspection looking at infection prevention and control arrangements (published 25 December 2020).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection, based on the rating at the last inspection.

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 inspected the key questions of Safe, Effective and Well-led. For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good based on the findings of this inspection.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.