Woodpeckers

Updated 30 January 2018

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.

Woodpeckers is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Woodpeckers accommodates 41 people in one adapted building. Accommodation at the home is provided over three floors, which can be accessed using stairs or passenger lifts. There are large gardens and patio area’s which provide a safe and secure private leisure area for people living at the home.

This comprehensive inspection took place on 22 and 27 November 2017 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of one inspector, a specialist advisor in the care of older people living with dementia 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 kind of service.

We spoke with six people who used the service and nine relatives, and a visiting college assessor. We also spoke with the registered manager, provider’s quality manager, provider’s clinical manager, provider’s operation manager, Colten companion, chef, maintenance manager, Admiral Nurse, five registered nurses, two domestic staff and three care staff. We looked at a range of records which included the care records for five people, medicines records and recruitment records for five care workers. We looked at a range of records in relation to the management of the service, such as health and safety, minutes of staff meetings and quality assurance records.

Following the inspection we also received feedback from three external healthcare professionals and a local primary school teacher.

We last inspected the home in October 2015 where no concerns were found. The home was rated as good in all domains.

Updated 30 January 2018

Woodpeckers provides accommodation for people who require nursing or personal care for up to 41 older people some of whom may be living with dementia. There were 31 people living at the home at the time of this inspection. Accommodation at the home is provided over three floors.

There are large gardens and patio area’s which provide a safe and secure private leisure area for people living at the home.

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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People felt safe living at Woodpeckers and they were very much at the heart of the service. We received consistent positive feedback from people, their families and health professionals. People received excellent care that was based around their individual needs and that ensured care was personalised and responsive.

Staff working at Woodpeckers understood the needs of people using the service and supported people in an exceptionally personalised way. Staff knew people well and we saw that care was provided respectfully and sensitively, taking into account people’s different needs. The impact this had on people was outstanding and had resulted in people living an active life with choice evident throughout.

The home developed and promoted community involvement within the home. They hosted a

Winter Wonderland event which people were involved in and had made products to sell and raise money for the charity of their choice. People, their families and staff took part in the local carnival procession. The home had built strong links with the local primary school and children visited the home weekly and worked with people through a buddy system.

The provider employed an Admiral Nurse to support staff, people and their families living with dementia. The service recognised and responded to people’s needs for social interaction and mental stimulation. The registered manager also promoted community involvement and supported a student from a special needs school with work experience, where one person especially enjoyed the interaction.

People were cared for by a motivated and well trained staff team, who always put people first. Staff had the specialist knowledge and skills required to meet people’s needs. Staff were encouraged to develop their careers and increase their skill set.

The home was responsive to people’s needs and wishes. People were able to choose what activities they took part in and suggest other activities they would like to complete.

Relevant recruitment checks were conducted before staff started working at Woodpeckers to make sure they were of good character and had the necessary skills. Staff had received training in safeguarding adults and knew how to identify, prevent and report abuse. There were enough staff to keep people safe. People involved in the recruitment process and had an input in staff employed at the home.

People received a high standard of care because staff were led by an experienced and proactive registered manager .The provider continued to seek to improve people’s care and treatment by working in partnership with other health providers to implement best practice.

Staff worked closely with the local college supporting new students into care which benefited the college and people at the home.

Regular governance meeting were held which promoted strong leadership of continuing improving and continually learning to improve quality of care.

The risks to people were minimized through risk assessments. There were plans in place for foreseeable emergencies and fire safety checks were carried out.

People received varied meals including a choice of fresh food and drinks. Mealtimes were positive and sociable experiences. Staff were aware of people’s likes and dislikes and offered alternatives if people did not want the menu choice of the day.

Creative ways had been introduced to encourage eating for people who were nutritionally at risk in the shape of smoothies and savoury cereal bars. People were listened to for meal preferences and as a result a winter menu was brought in with an extra hot meal in the evening and people chose different guest ice creams and were imaginative in their ideas.

A nutrition folder had been introduced with the guidance of the NHS professionals in dietetics.

The provider worked in partnership with other health organisations and were involved in a pilot on National Early Warning Score to identify early warning signs of deterioration in people.

Staff received regular support and received regular one to one sessions of supervision to discuss areas of development. New staff completed an induction programme before being permitted to work unsupervised.

People felt they were treated with kindness and said their privacy and dignity was respected. Staff had an understanding of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and were clear that people had the right to make their own choices. Staff sought consent from people before providing care and support. The ability of people to make decisions was assessed in line with legal requirements to ensure their rights were protected and their liberty was not restricted unlawfully. People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.

The home maintained a good level of communication with people through a range of newsletters and meetings. ‘Residents meetings’ and surveys allowed people and their families to provide feedback, which was used to improve the service. People felt listened to and a complaints procedure was in place.

Regular audits of the service were carried out to assess and monitor the quality of the service. There were appropriate management arrangements in place.

At the last inspection in October 2015 the service was rated good. At this inspection we found the service was outstanding.