We carried out a review of the data available to us about Woodfalls Care Home on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Woodfalls Care Home, you can give feedback on this service.
Woodfalls Care Home is a care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 24 people aged 65 and over. At the time of the inspection 22 people were living in the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
We made a recommendation that the provider reviews the medicines management practice, to ensure their procedures are followed consistently.
People told us they were supported to take the medicines they were prescribed on time. People said they could get additional support if needed, for example additional pain relief. Staff had kept clear records of the support they provided for people to take tablet and liquid medicines. However, the records for people prescribed emollient creams were inconsistent, with some days when there was no record of people being supported to use the cream.
The home had good infection prevention and control procedures in place. Procedures had been reviewed and updated to reflect the COVID-19 pandemic. Systems were in place to prevent visitors catching and spreading infections.
There were enough staff to meet people’s needs. The registered manager had strengthened the home's staffing contingency measures following an emergency situation. This meant there were more bank staff to call on to cover unexpected staff absence if needed.
The registered manager had taken action to keep people safe and manage the risks they faced. Staff had a good understanding of the action they needed to take to keep people safe.
Staff demonstrated a good understanding of people’s individual needs and a commitment to provide person-centred care.
The registered manager worked well with people to meet their needs. They had developed good relationships with health and social care professionals.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update
The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 19 October 2019) and there were breaches of regulations. Targeted inspections were completed in January and October 2020, following which we served warning notices due to continued breaches of regulations. A further targeted inspection was completed in November 2020, when we found the provider had complied with the warning notices.
Why we inspected
We received concerns in relation to staffing. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only.
We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection.
The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Woodfalls Care Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
Woodfalls Care Home is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 24 older people in one adapted building. At the time of the inspection 21 people were living at the service. Some people were living with dementia.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Personal protective equipment (PPE) was being used effectively and safely. Since the last inspection the registered manager had provided information and training to all staff on what PPE was needed and how to use it safely. Staff were wearing PPE in line with current guidance.
The registered manager was aware of the correct procedures to follow when a member of staff was required to self-isolate. Following the last inspection, the registered manager had started to recruit more staff to improve their contingency plans to cover staff absence.
Staff and people who used the service were being regularly tested for COVID-19. The provider had procedures in place for people to be isolated if they tested positive.
People were tested for COVID-19 before they moved into the home. We signposted the registered manager to the current guidance on recommended action when people move into the service from their own home.
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 19 October 2019). At the last targeted inspection on 16 October 2020 the provider was still in breach of regulations and we served a Warning Notice. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulation.
Why we inspected
We undertook this targeted inspection to check whether the Warning Notice we previously served in relation to Regulation 12 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 had been met. The overall rating for the service has not changed following this targeted inspection and remains requires improvement.
CQC have introduced targeted inspections to follow up on Warning Notices or to check specific concerns. They do not look at an entire key question, only the part of the key question we are specifically concerned about. Targeted inspections do not change the rating from the previous inspection. This is because they do not assess all areas of a key question.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
Woodfalls Care Home is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 24 older people in one adapted building. Some people are living with dementia.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were put at risk of harm because the provider did not have effective and safe systems for infection prevention and control.
A member of staff was working in the service when they should have been self-isolating. The registered manager had not ensured legal requirements for staff to self-isolate when returning to the UK were followed.
Staff did not wear the correct personal protective equipment. The registered manager was not aware of current national guidance and had not ensured staff wore face masks at all times in the home.
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 19 October 2019).
Why we inspected
We undertook this targeted inspection to check on a specific concern we had about infection prevention and control. The overall rating for the service has not changed following this targeted inspection and remains requires improvement.
CQC have introduced targeted inspections to follow up on Warning Notices or to check specific concerns. They do not look at an entire key question, only the part of the key question we are specifically concerned about. Targeted inspections do not change the rating from the previous inspection. This is because they do not assess all areas of a key question.
Enforcement
We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to discharge our regulatory enforcement functions required to keep people safe and to hold providers to account where it is necessary for us to do so.
We have identified breaches in relation to infection prevention and control at this inspection.
Full information about CQC’s regulatory response to the more serious concerns found during inspections is added to reports after any representations and appeals have been concluded.
Follow up
We will request an action plan for 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 return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
Woodfalls Care Home is a care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 24 older people, some of whom may have dementia. At the time of the inspection 19 people were living in the home.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
At the last inspection we told the provider they needed to improve the way they supported people with medicines. At this inspection we found the provider had made the improvements necessary to meet legal requirements.
Medicines were safely managed. People were supported to take the medicines they had been prescribed. Staff had received additional training and managers regularly checked to ensure the systems were working well.
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 19 October 2019) and there were breaches of regulations. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made to the way medicines were managed.
Why we inspected
We undertook this targeted inspection to check whether the Warning Notice we previously served in relation to a breach of Regulation 12 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 had been met. The overall rating for the service has not changed following this targeted inspection and remains requires improvement.
CQC are currently trialling targeted inspections, to measure their effectiveness in following up on a Warning Notice or other specific concerns. They do not look at an entire key question, only the part of the key question we are specifically concerned about. Targeted inspections do not change the rating from the previous inspection. This is because they do not assess all areas of a key question.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Woodfalls Care Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
Woodfalls Care Home is a care home for up to 24 older people, including those living with dementia. 17 people were living in the home at the time of the inspection.
What life is like for people using this service:
People were not always supported to take the medicine their doctor had prescribed for them and some people had been given more medicine than they had been prescribed. The provider had not improved the medicines management systems following the last inspection and practice was still not safe.
Risks to people, staff and visitors to the building were not managed effectively. Actions identified in the fire risk assessment to support people to evacuate the building in an emergency had not been completed. Safety checks of equipment in the home were not completed as often as necessary. This included checks to the fire alarm systems and actions to reduce the risk of Legionella.
The provider did not have effective systems to identify improvements that were needed and ensure the improvements were made. The provider had not ensured actions required following the last inspection had been completed.
People received caring and compassionate support from kind and committed staff.
Staff respected people’s privacy and dignity.
People’s rights to make their own decisions were respected. People were supported to choose meals they enjoyed and access the health services they needed.
The management team provided good support for staff.
More information is in Detailed Findings below.
Rating at last inspection and update: Requires Improvement. Report published 14 September 2018.
The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection not enough improvement had been made and the provider was still in breach of regulations.
Why we inspected:
This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection.
Enforcement:
We have identified breaches in relation to medicines management, safety of the building and management systems at this inspection. Full information about CQC’s regulatory response to the more serious concerns found during inspections is added to reports after any representations and appeals have been concluded.
Follow up:
We will meet with the provider following this report being published to discuss how they will make changes to ensure they improve their rating to at least good. We will work with the local authority to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
People living at Woodfalls Care Home received accommodation and 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.
Woodfalls Care Home is registered for up to 24 people to live at the service. Whilst registered for 24 people, only 23 can be accommodated. At the time of the inspection there were 18 people living at the home and one of these people was receiving treatment in hospital.
There was a manager in post. The manager was awaiting registration with CQC at the time of the inspection. 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 2008 and associated regulations about how the service is run.
At the last inspection in April 2017, we found that medicines were not always managed safely and the service was unclean in places. We also identified that people’s care plans did not always contain enough information to ensure their needs were being met. At this inspection, some concerns from the previous inspection had been addressed. However, most shortfalls remained of concern. The manager was aware of some of the areas that required improvement and an action plan was in place to address these.
There were some improvements in the record keeping for daily medicine administration. However, records for medicines administered on an ‘as and when required’ (PRN) basis were not recorded safely. They did not provide an overview of how often people received the medicines. The protocols for administering PRN medicines were inconsistent and not always in place for some people. This left people at risk of not receiving medicines in accordance with the prescription directions.
The protocols for the administration of topical medicines, such as creams and lotions were not in place. This meant there was no guidance as to where specifically people required their prescription.
Areas of the home were unclean. We found a build-up of dust on ornaments and cobwebs that had clearly been in place for some time. The condition of the fixtures and fittings prevented thorough infection prevention control during cleaning. This meant there was increased risk of cross infection.
We saw that audits identified that parts of the building required redecoration and repair. However, this had been put on hold due to having empty rooms at the home.
People had pressure relieving equipment in place, such as air mattresses. Staff did not record information provided by the community nurse, to check mattresses remained at the correct setting. It was not possible for the service to know if the equipment was at its most effective setting.
Staff practice for recording fluid intake was inconsistent. They recorded fluid intake in different places and at times did not complete the records fully. There was no overview of people’s fluid intake where it had been assessed as a need to do this in monitoring their health.
There was no overview or monitoring of infections. Staff recalled from memory who had been diagnosed with an infection. There was no monitoring in place to identify the frequency or duration of infections.
Staff understood how the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) applied when people lacked capacity. When people had been assessed as having mental capacity to make decisions, staff told us they would still stop them from leaving the service if they wished. This practice would mean that staff detained people unlawfully.
There were no records identifying who had the legal right to be involved in decisions about people’s care.
The quality of care plans varied. We saw that care plans had in places minimal and generic information recorded. The service used an electronic care planning system, which auto-generated statements that could be used in care plans. The aim of this was that staff would then tailor the automated information to make it person-centred, but this was not being done.
Relatives praised the service for the care and support their family members received. We saw positive feedback had been received in ‘thank-you cards’. This positive feedback was particularly around how comfortable and cared for family members had been while receiving end of life care.
The provision of activities was very minimal. Staff told us people could, “watch the TV, listen to the radio, read a magazine.” The manager told us, “People have got dementia so we don’t like to put too much on. On one day they do have the hairdresser and the doctors round.” We saw people seeking engagement with the staff and little social stimulation being offered due to staff completing care duties.
There were short periods of kind and caring interactions between people and staff. Staff spoke with compassion about the care they provided and were proud of “being able to make a difference.” The availability of staff did not enable people to receive longer periods of caring engagement with staff.
Staff routines were task focussed and not always considerate of people. We saw two staff discussing shift cover at the dining table, while one person was next to them eating their afternoon tea. At the same time, the manager was at another dining table completing the payroll. This did not contribute to a homely environment.
Management overview of the service was not always possible. The training matrix was in the process of being created to provide an overview of who had completed what training and when training was due. The audits did not identify concerns that we found at the inspection. Individual staff meetings to discuss their performance and feedback were not up to date. Policies and risk assessments for the home were out of date and in the process of being updated.
We found four breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
This is the third time that the service has been rated as Requires Improvement. In line with our published guidance for repeated Requires improvement CQC considered what enforcement action to take. Full information about CQC’s regulatory response to the more serious concerns found during inspections is added to reports after any representations and appeals have been concluded. We have requested that the registered manager provides a monthly action plan with updates as to how the service will address the shortfalls highlighted at the inspection and detailed in this report.
At this inspection, there was a new registered manager in post. They started employment at the home in July 2016 but had been the registered manager previously in 2013. 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. The registered manager was not available on the first day of the inspection due to annual leave. They were available throughout the second day and discussions took place on the telephone after the inspection.
Woodfalls Care Home provides care and accommodation to up to 24 older people, some of whom are living with dementia. Whilst registered for 24 people only 23 can be accommodated. At the time of the inspection, there were 23 people living at the home.
Since their appointment, the registered manager had addressed certain aspects of the service and improvements had been made. However, some shortfalls which were identified at the last inspection remained outstanding. The registered manager was aware of the areas that still needed attention and a development plan was in place to address these.
On the first day of the inspection, there were not enough staff to support people effectively. Staff were busy and interactions with people were limited and task orientated. This improved on the second day of the inspection, particularly as the registered manager and deputy manager were on duty and assisted with care provision. A review of staffing levels had taken place and one to one staff support for some people had been introduced. This had enabled an improved service although there were some concerns about the number of staff available during the late afternoon and evening period.
Not all areas of the home were clean. There was dust and debris on surfaces and less visible areas such as the side of tables and walking frames. The registered manager agreed the level of cleanliness was not to their usual standard. They explained staff sickness had recently occurred and the ability to consistently provide cover, had impacted on this.
Guidance for staff had been developed in relation to people’s “as required” medicines. However, staff had not always signed the medicine administration record to show they had given people their medicines. This did not ensure the medicines were taken as prescribed or enable accurate monitoring of the medicine’s effectiveness.
A new electronic care planning system had been introduced and information about people’s care had been inputted into this. To ensure staff received key information, the system’s templated care plans had been used. This meant some information was generic rather than person specific. This did not clearly inform staff of people’s needs and the support they required. The registered manager was aware such information needed to be “tweaked” to make it person centred.
People benefitted from an established staff team who knew them well. There had been a review of staff training and a clear plan was in place to address any shortfalls. Greater focus had been given to face to face training rather than “on line” sessions. Staff felt well supported and had regular discussions with their supervisor. Appraisals, which reviewed staff’s performance, were being completed.
The registered manager regularly worked alongside staff and completed various care shifts. This enabled them to get to know people well and provide clear leadership, through mentoring and role modelling. The “on call” management system enabled staff to gain advice and assistance at any time.
People told us they could make choices and follow their own routines. There was a clear ethos, which was applied in practice. The principles of the Mental Capacity Act were adopted and people were supported to have advocates, to discuss and reflect on more complex decisions. People told us they felt safe and their privacy and dignity was maintained. There was a clear focus on ensuring people had enough to eat and drink.
People and their relatives knew how to make a complaint and were encouraged to give their views about the service. There was an open approach to complaints, which was used to develop the service. Any complaints had been properly investigated and satisfactorily resolved.
Improvements had been made to the environment. This included a refurbished bathroom and redecoration of some bedrooms. New laundry and computer equipment had been purchased. Regular audits had taken place and action plans identified any shortfalls. However, cleanliness had not been noted and some audits did not demonstrate the depth of monitoring needed.
We found one repeated breach in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can see what action we required the provider to take at the end of this report.
We carried out this inspection over two days on 16 and 17 November 2015. The first day of the inspection was unannounced. Our last inspection to the service was on 15 December 2013. During the inspection in December 2013, no breaches of legal requirements were identified within the areas we looked at.
Woodfalls Care Home provides care and accommodation to up to 24 older people, some of whom have dementia. Whilst registered for 24 people only 23 can be accommodated. At the time of the inspection, there were 23 people living at the home.
There was a registered manager in post. The registered manager started employment at the home in March 2015. 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. The registered manager was present throughout the inspection.
Not all care plans were up to date and reflected people’s needs. The information did not inform staff of people’s preferences or the support they required. Staff checked people’s skin to ensure it was not sore but there was no information within people’s care plans about the prevention of pressure ulceration. There was limited detail about managing people’s continence and emotions such as agitation and resistance. The registered manager told us these shortfalls would be addressed once the new electronic care planning system had been implemented.
People medicines were administered safely in a person centred way. All medicines were stored securely and staff had appropriately signed the medicine administration record. However, protocols were not in place to inform staff of the administration of “as required” medicines. Records did not demonstrate staff had consistently applied people’s topical creams.
Some audits to monitor the quality of the service had been introduced. The registered manager was aware a more comprehensive approach was required and more audits in different areas were to be introduced. Some shortfalls, such as the inaccessibility of call bells were not being identified within the audits. Priority was being given to new furniture but not all issues identified were being addressed.
Additional staff training had been arranged since the registered manager’s appointment. The registered manager had clear expectations of the standards staff were to achieve. Courses had been scheduled for those staff not up to date with certain topics. Staff felt supported although there were some concerns around the pressure caused by a change in manager and a review of care practices. A formal staff supervision system had been introduced and was working well. Time was required to fully embed the system.
During the inspection, there were sufficient staff available to support people effectively. Staff spent time with people and were attentive to their needs. People were not rushed and not waiting for assistance. However, there were some views that more staff would be beneficial. Agency staff were being used to maintain staffing levels at times of staff sickness and annual leave. To ensure consistency, the same agency staff were being requested.
People and their relatives were very complimentary about the staff and the care provided. There were many positive interactions which indicated staff knew people well. Staff spoke with people in a friendly, respectful manner and promoted rights to privacy, dignity and choice. Staff showed a commitment to their work and were concerned about people’s wellbeing. There were positive comments about the food and people had enough to eat and drink. People were appropriately supported to see their GP or other health care professionals, as required.
People looked content, well supported and were relaxed around staff. Relatives had no concerns about their family member’s safety. They knew how to make a complaint and were confident any issues would be appropriately addressed. Staff were aware of their responsibilities to report any suspicion or allegation of abuse.
We found three breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.
The provider had taken steps to provide care in an environment that was adequately maintained.
Staff received appropriate training and supervision. One member of staff said 'we get lots of training, it's very good'.
We saw that there was an effective complaints procedure. One relative said 'I would feel able to speak to staff if I had a complaint. They are really approachable and not at all defensive. When I have brought up little things in the past they have been resolved immediately and absolutely to our satisfaction'.
People were protected from the risks of unsafe or inappropriate care and treatment because accurate and appropriate records were maintained.
Staff had received appropriate training to update their moving and handling knowledge and skills. Staff were able to apply this knowledge to practice.
People's records were stored securely. We saw people's records of care were reviewed and updated regularly and reflected person centred care.
People were involved in initial assessments before they moved into the home. People we spoke with told us they were asked about their preference for the gender of the staff providing their personal care.
People were offered a choice of what to eat and drink. People's nutrition and hydration was being assessed and appropriate support was given to those at risk of losing weight.
People were able to have their needs met because there were sufficient numbers of experienced and trained staff available when they needed them. People told us "the staff are very caring, they come quickly when you buzz" and "The staff are lovely"
People and their relatives were asked for their views about the service provided and the manager had an action plan based on their feedback.
We found that there were some risks to people because staff did not know about and follow correct procedures for helping people with their mobility needs. The home also did not have systems in place to document when decisions had been taken in people's best interests in accordance with the legal requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.