Archived: Woodlands

Woodlands is a residential care home and provides accommodation and personal care for up to 28 older people and people living with dementia in one adapted building. At the time of our inspection there were 26 people living at Woodlands.

We found the following examples of good practice.

Staff used their infection prevention and control (IPC) practice and training to good effect by adopting social distancing, having regular temperature tests and wearing their personal protective equipment (PPE) correctly.

The provider had ensured sufficient stocks and supplies of the correct standard of PPE. They participated in regular COVID-19 testing programmes and ensured staff knew how to put on and take off their PPE. There were plans in place to manage any potential future outbreak of COVID-19.

The registered manager adhered to IPC guidance by ensuring people admitted to the service were isolated for 14 days. Items such as individual hoists, bedding and clothing was kept separate from other people and regularly disinfected.

Any items or frequently touched area such as handrails, light switches and furniture was sanitised and cleaned using appropriate materials. There was a cleaning programme in place with deep cleans of people’s, and communal, rooms. There were enough staff who could work in separate groups. Only these staff would care for people who needed to isolate to avoid the risk of cross contamination.

The provider’s policies and audits had embedded a safety culture where all staff and people using the service had been vaccinated. Learning from previous infections had given staff confidence to be safe but to be diligent in maintaining good IPC practice.

Staff supported visits to people under special circumstances and any end of life care. Other means of staying in touch with relatives and friends included the use of window visits, social media and e-mailing photographs.

Woodlands accommodates 28 people in one adapted building.

At the time of our unannounced inspection on 8 November 2017 there were 25 older people and people living with dementia living at the service.

At the last inspection on 1 December 2015, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

The service has a registered manager. 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.

Staff demonstrated a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.

Processes were in place to ensure that infection control was promoted and the risk of cross contamination was reduced.

The service was currently being refurbished. Some communal areas had been redecorated and other areas were awaiting refurbishment, including the communal bathrooms. The building, although listed, had minor adaptations in place to help people with limited mobility such as ramps, a stair lift and a passenger lift.

Staff were available to support people’s individual needs in a kind and respectful way. People and their relatives were given the opportunity to be involved in the setting up and review of their individual support and care plans. Staff encouraged people to take part in activities. People’s friends and family were encouraged by staff to visit the service and were made welcome.

People were supported by staff and external health care professionals, when required, at the end of their life to have a comfortable and dignified death.

Staff were knowledgeable about how to report suspicions of harm and poor care practice. Pre-employment checks were in place to make sure that new staff were deemed suitable to work with the people they were supporting. People were assisted to take their medicines as prescribed.

People had individualised care and support plans in place which recorded their needs. These plans informed staff on how a person would like care and support to be given, in line with external health care professional advice. Individual risks to people were identified and assessed by staff. Plans were put into place to minimise these risks as far as practicable to enable people to live as safe and independent a life as possible.

People were assisted to access a range of external health care professionals and were supported to maintain their health and well-being. People’s health and nutritional needs were met.

Staff were trained to provide effective care which met people’s individual needs. The standard of staff members’ work performance was reviewed by the registered manager through supervisions, spot checks and appraisals.

The registered manager sought feedback about the quality of the service provided from people and/or their relatives, staff and visiting health professionals. There was an on-going quality monitoring process in place to identify areas of improvement required within the service. Where improvements had been identified, actions were taken. Learning from incidents were discussed at staff meetings to reduce the risk of recurrence.

Records showed that the CQC was informed of incidents that the provider was legally obliged to notify us of.

Further information is in the detailed findings below

We found that care records were current and reflected the needs of people who lived in the home. Staff demonstrated a good understanding and knowledge of the care and support people required.

Procedures were in place which ensured that people who used the service received their medication appropriately and staff had undertaken training.

The premises were well maintained and records showed that appropriate safety checks had taken place on systems and equipment which meant it was safe for people to live in.

There was a recruitment procedure in place which ensured that only people suitable to work with vulnerable people were employed. Staff received a wide range of training which equipped them for their role.

There was a system in place to check that people were satisfied with the service and an effective system to monitor and audit services provided to people who lived in the home.