Woodstock Dementia and Residential Care Home

Updated 18 March 2023

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 two inspectors.

Service and service type

Woodstock Dementia and Residential Care Home 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. Woodstock dementia and residential 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 provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

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

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

Inspection activity started on 16 January 2023 and ended on 23 January 2023. We visited the location’s service on 16 January 2023.

What we did before the inspection

The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 2 people who used the service and 4 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We met with the operations manager, registered manager, deputy manager and spoke with 4 care workers. We looked at written records, which included 4 people's care records and 3 staff files. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed.

Updated 18 March 2023

About the service

Woodstock Dementia and Residential Care Home is a care home providing accommodation and personal care. At the time of the inspection 41 older people, including those living with dementia were living at the service. The service can support up to 60 people. Accommodation is set over two floors and divided into two units on the ground floor. Both units have communal lounges and dining rooms where people enjoyed activities and mealtimes together. There is secure access to a garden area.

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

People’s risks were identified but care plans and risk assessments did not always include relevant and up to date information. Where people were at risk of choking, risk assessments did not include guidance for staff on how to support people during choking episodes that was individual to them. Where people were at risk of constipation, risk assessments were not appropriately recorded and personalised to their needs.

Medicines were not managed safely. When required medicines (PRN) were not used effectively to help people at risk of constipation. PRN protocols were not in place for every PRN medicine prescribed. Where protocols were in place, they did not include step by step guidance for staff on how to administer these medicines effectively for people.

Quality assurance systems were in place, however, not effective in picking up areas of concern we found on inspection. The management team were responsive to the concerns found and since the inspection we have received updated PRN protocols and care plans with updated information.

People and their relatives told us they felt safe at the service. Staff knew how to recognise signs of abuse and where to report concerns. Staff we spoke to felt confident to raise concerns if they were to arise. Reports were made to the local authority safeguarding team when appropriate and staff had received up to date safeguarding training.

Staff were recruited safely, and enough staff were deployed to meet the needs of people living at the service. A dependency tool was used and reviewed regularly to ensure people’s needs were met. We observed during our inspection that there were plenty of staff around to respond to people. Staff were employed specifically to meet people’s social needs and plenty of activities were being carried out.

Infection control procedures were in place at the service. Staff wore masks and other personal protective equipment PPE when required as per the company policy. There were plenty of PPE stations around the service and enough stock to was available when required. When people become unwell, appropriate measures are taken to help control the spread of infection.

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.

Staff were positive about the management team. They felt supported in their roles and felt like the registered manager’s door was always open. Relatives were positive about the management and said they were always visible when visiting the service. People, staff and relatives were asked to feedback about the service, outcomes were reviewed and analysed to make improvements.

The registered manager was aware of their responsibilities under the duty of candour and knew when to send in notifications to CQC as part of their regulatory responsibility.

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 Requires Improvement (published 25 November 2019) and there were multiple breaches of regulation. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations. Due to concerns found on the inspection, the service remains rated requires improvement. This service has been rated requires improvement for the last 3 consecutive inspections.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

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.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.