Archived: Woodlands

Updated 17 July 2019

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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection team consisted of two adult social care inspectors.

Service and service type

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

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

Prior to our inspection we checked all of the information we held about the service. This included any statutory notifications that the service is required to send to us by law, any allegations of abuse or feedback about the service. We also checked the provider information return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used a planning tool to collate the information prior to our inspection.

To understand the experiences of people using the service we observed the interactions between staff and people living there. We also spoke with two relatives of people living in the service. We spoke with six members of staff. These included three care staff, the deputy manager, the operations director and the registered manager who took overall responsibility for the service. We looked at a number of records. These included a care file, medication administration records, two staff files, training records and associated documentation relating to the operation and management of the service.

Updated 17 July 2019

About the service

Woodlands is a residential care home registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to four people. At the time of the inspection three people were living in the service.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

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

Medicines were managed safely. We observed sufficient numbers of staff in place to support people’s needs and staff had been recruited safely. People looked relaxed in the company of staff and people’s relatives confirmed they felt people were safe living there.

Staff had undertaken a range of training to support the care which people received. Where required relevant professionals had been involved in the assessments of people’s needs. The service had been developed to meet the individual needs of people living there. People’s dietary needs were supported. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People received good care, their needs, likes, dislikes and choices were provided by the staff team. People were treated with dignity and respect and they were involved in decisions. Care files were individualised and contained information about how to deliver care to people. Records included information about how to communicate with people effectively. A range of activities were provided to people.

The registered manager understood her role and responsibilities and she was open and transparent with the inspection process. There was evidence of community engagement taking place. A range of audits and monitoring was seen. We received positive feedback about the registered manager and the staff team.

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

Rating at last inspection

The service was rated good at the last inspection (Published on 14 December 2016).

Why we inspected

This was a scheduled inspection based on the previous ratings.

Follow up

The service will be re-inspected as per our inspection programme. We will continue to monitor any information we receive about the service. The inspection may be brought forward if any risks are identified.