Archived: Woods Court Residential Care Home for Older People

Updated 1 July 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.

This inspection took place on 9 June 2016 and was unannounced.

The inspection team consisted of two inspectors 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

Before the inspection, we asked the provider to complete 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 reviewed information the provider had sent us including statutory notifications. These are made for serious incidents which the provider must inform us about.

We spoke with eight people who used the service, eight relatives, two members of the care staff, activities coordinator, a domestic assistant, laundry assistant, the cook, a team leader who also worked in the role of deputy manager and the registered manager. We also spoke with a visiting health and social care professional.

We looked at all or parts of the care records and other relevant records of six people who used the service, as well as a range of records relating to the running of the service.

Updated 1 July 2016

We carried out an unannounced inspection of the service on 9 June 2016. Woods Court Residential Care Home for Older People provides accommodation for people who require personal care, for up to 49 people. Respite services were also provided. On the day of our inspection 25 people were using the service and 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.

During out previous inspection on 24 July 2015 we identified two breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. This was in relation to the management of people’s medicines and the management of the home. During this inspection we checked to see whether improvements had been made. We found they had in both areas.

People’s medicines were now managed safely and medicine administration records were completed appropriately. Processes were in place to reduce the risk of people experiencing abuse. Risks to people’s safety were continually assessed and reviewed. People were able to lead their lives without unnecessary restrictions on their freedom. There were enough staff to keep people safe.

Staff were well trained, received regular supervision of their work and were encouraged to undertake professional qualifications in adult social care. The principles of the Mental Capacity Act (2005), including Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, had been followed when decisions were made about people’s care. People enjoyed the food that was provided for them and people were referred to dieticians where additional support was needed. People’s day to day health needs were met by staff. A visiting healthcare professional spoke highly of the way staff supported people. Referrals to relevant health services were made where needed.

Staff were kind, caring and compassionate. Staff understood people’s needs and listened to and acted upon their views. People’s privacy and dignity were maintained and staff spoke with them in a respectful way. People told us staff respected the decisions they made about their about their care. People’s records did not always record that people had been involved with these decisions. Some care records contained details about people’s life history and preferences but others, who were staying at the home for a shorter period of time did not. People were provided with information about how they could access independent advocates. People’s friends and relatives were able to visit whenever they wanted to.

People spoke positively about the activities provided at the home. Regular reviews of people’s care were carried out to ensure they met people’s current needs. People were provided with the information they needed if they wished to make a complaint.

The registered manager had made improvements to the service since the last inspection. This included the implementation of robust quality assurance processes. Staff spoke positively about the registered manager, however people who used the service and their relatives felt the registered manager was not always visible at the home. Staff understood what was expected of them in their role.