The Woodlands Care Home

Updated 7 December 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 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 carried out by one inspector and an inspection manager.

Service and service type

The Woodlands 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. The 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 CQC 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 no registered manager in post. A new manager had been appointed and had submitted an application to register. We are currently assessing this application.

Notice of inspection

We provided a short period of notice of this inspection as we needed to ensure there would be staff / management at the service who could support the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we 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 used all the information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with one person who lived at The Woodlands Care Home. We also spoke with the manager, quality assurance manager and two members of staff.

We also spoke with the nominated individual who is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

We reviewed a range of records. This included one person’s care record, medication administration records, one staff personnel file in relation to recruitment and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.

Updated 7 December 2022

About the service

The Woodlands is a 'care home' and supports up to 16 older people and those living with sensory impairments across two floors. People in care homes receive accommodation, nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. At the time of our inspection one person was receiving support.

People’s experience of using this service

A number of identified improvements had been made since our last inspection. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Systems and processes to assess, monitor and mitigate risk to people had been improved upon; one person living at the home was receiving the care and support they needed. Care records and risk assessments contained up to date information and staff were familiar with the level of tailored care the person needed. Clinical tools and charts were being completed; these were being used as a measure of monitoring risks which had been identified.

Significant improvements had been made to environment and exposure to risk had been mitigated. Fire safety concerns had been addressed, health and safety certificates were in place and the provider had purchased the required safety equipment that was needed to support with transfers and emergency situations.

Safe medicine procedures and arrangements were in place. Medicines were securely stored; staff received the necessary medication administration training and were having their competency levels checked.

Quality assurance measures and governance procedures had improved. The quality and safety of the service was now being monitored, assessed and improvements were being made. An experienced manager had been appointed and there was a greater level of provider oversight. New systems had been embedded, ensuring that feedback about the provision of care was regularly captured as a way of driving service improvement.

The provider was now compliant with ‘safer recruitment’ practices; there was evidence of pre-employment recruitment checks, appropriate references and the required level of identification that was needed. Staff told us they felt supported. One staff member said, “Unbelievable support and the improvements are absolutely brilliant.” Learning and development opportunities were being supported, supervision and appraisals were taking place and staff had completed all the necessary training that was expected of them.

New safeguarding measures and systems were in place. Safeguarding incidents were recorded and referrals were made to the necessary authorities in a timely manner.

The home had been refurbished since our last inspection. We observed a clean, hygienic and well-maintained environment. Improved infection prevention and control (IPC) measures and arrangements had been embedded and we were assured that people were no longer exposed to risk. IPC audits were being completed, staff had access to the appropriate PPE and COVID-19 guidelines were being followed accordingly.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was inadequate (published 16 June 2022), we identified a number of regulatory breaches. The provider completed a number of action plans after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made, the provider was no longer in breach of regulations and the service has been rated requires improvement.

This service has been in Special Measures since 16 June 2022. During this inspection the provider demonstrated that improvements have been made. The service is no longer rated as inadequate overall or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is no longer in Special Measures

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced inspection of this service on 10 and 16 May 2022, a number of regulatory breaches of legal requirements were found in relation to need for consent, safe care and treatment, staffing, recruitment and good governance. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve.

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions safe, effective, well-led which contain those requirements.

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 inadequate to requires improvement. This is based on the findings at this 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.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for The Woodlands Care Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

Follow up

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