Woodlands

Updated 15 December 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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 comprehensive inspection took place on 16 and 17 November 2017 and was carried out by two inspectors. The registered manager was given 24 hours’ notice of the inspection as one of the inspectors was in their induction and we wanted to be sure that two inspectors visiting the home would not cause distress to people using the service.

Before the inspection, we reviewed all the information we held about the service including previous inspection reports and notifications received by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). A notification is used by registered managers to tell us about important issues and events which have happened within the service. The provider had completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, such as what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used this information to help us decide what areas to focus on during our inspection.

We spoke with three of the people living at Woodlands and also spent time observing interactions between people and the staff supporting them. We spoke with the registered manager, assistant regional manager, deputy manager and three support workers. We reviewed two people’s care records, staff training records, recruitment files for four staff and other records relating to the management of the home such as audits and meeting minutes. During the inspection we spoke with one health care professional and one relative. Following our visit we spoke with a further three relatives and three health and social care professionals to obtain their views on the quality of care provided.

This was the first comprehensive inspection of this service under the provider of Community Homes of Intensive Care and Education Limited.

Updated 15 December 2017

Woodlands is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and their care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided and both were looked at during this inspection. Woodlands provides care for up to six adults with a learning disability. At the time of our inspection there were six people living at the home some of whom lived with physical disabilities. The service is located in a residential area and has a large accessible garden and parking. For some people, the service was their long term home. Others were being supported to achieve independent living skills enabling them to move on to supported living settings.

The service had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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.

Staff understood how to recognise and respond to abuse and had a good understanding of risks to people’s health and wellbeing. Incidents and accidents affecting the safety of people were investigated to make sure that any causes were identified and action taken to minimise any risk of reoccurrence. Lessons learnt were communicated effectively with the staff team and throughout the organisation.

Safe recruitment practices were followed and appropriate checks had been undertaken which made sure only suitable staff were employed to care for people in the home. There were sufficient numbers of experienced staff to meet people’s needs.

The home was clean and policies and procedures were in place to protect people by the prevention and control of infections.

There was evidence that the care provided at Woodlands had been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the ‘Registering the Right Support’ and other best practice guidance. People were encouraged to live their life in the same way as any other citizen and their choices, independence and inclusion were encouraged. The design and layout of the premises met people’s needs.

Staff were supported to provide appropriate care to people because they were trained, supervised and appraised.

People were encouraged to express their choices and these were respected. The leadership team understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).

People were supported to have enough to eat and drink and their dietary needs were met. Staff worked effectively with a range of other healthcare professionals to help ensure people’s health care needs were met.

Systems were in place to support effective multi-disciplinary working and information sharing when necessary to ensure people received co-ordinated and person centred care.

People were supported by staff who were kind and caring. People were cared for with dignity and respect and staff were mindful of their need for privacy.

Staff understood the needs of the people they supported and cared for them in a person centred manner that was responsive to their individual needs. The service and people living there continued to be part of their local community. People were supported to stay in contact with their friends and relatives.

People were able and encouraged to take part in a range of leisure activities and follow their own interests.

The provider had a complaints procedure in place that was accessible to people. Further work was planned to ensure that staff had information about people’s wishes and preferences for how and where their care should be provided at the end of their life.

The registered manager fostered a positive and person centred culture within the home and helped staff provide care which was in keeping with people’s needs and wishes. Relatives and staff spoke positively about the registered manager. The engagement and involvement of people and staff was encouraged and their feedback was used to drive improvements. There were systems in place to assess and monitor the quality and safety of the service and to ensure people were receiving the best possible support.