Willow Lodge

Updated 23 May 2023

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. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was undertaken by 2 inspectors.

Service and service type

Willow Lodge is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Willow Lodge is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we held about the home and contacted the local authority. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 5 people and 2 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We received feedback from 11 members of staff including the registered manager. We received responses from 2 health and social care professionals to obtain their views of the home.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 2 people's care and support records and 2 people’s medicine administration records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment and training. We also reviewed a variety of records relating to the management of the home, including policies and procedures, accident and incident records, safeguarding records and reports.

Updated 23 May 2023

About the service

Willow Lodge is a care home registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to 8 people who have experienced a head injury or neurological condition that has affected their mental health. The service specialises in rehabilitation and supporting people with complex needs following a brain injury and/or neurodegenerative conditions. The home is an adapted building covering three floors, which includes two self-contained flats suitable for independent living. At the time of inspection 8 people were living at the service.

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

The home had a recruitment process in place, but this had not always been followed. We have made a recommendation about recruitment practices within the home. The registered manager was responsive to address the shortfalls found within this inspection.

People told us they felt safe at Willow Lodge. One person told us, “I am perfectly safe, it’s perfectly clean and safe and polite, no problem at all.”

Care plans and risk assessments were person centred. Relatives told us staff knew their loved ones well. Comments included, “The staff have been amazing with settling in [Person’s name] and reassuring them and myself that they are safe at Willow Lodge” and, “The support workers go above and beyond, allowing [Person’s name] to visit any places they would like to go and encouraging different places which is great.”

Staff supported people in a kind and compassionate way, considering their dignity and respecting people’s rights. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The culture of the home was open and focused on providing person-centred care. Staff told us they were proud to work at Willow Lodge. One staff member stated, “It is clear that the registered manager has the best interests of everyone and wants the house to work as a team to create a productive and positive culture. I feel as though all staff are there to support those who live there and there is always good energy between us.”

The registered manager worked jointly with health professionals to provide specialist support to people, involving their families and other professionals as appropriate. This helped people achieve increased independence through positive risk taking, setting goals and, where appropriate, to find their own accommodation if they so wished.

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 good (published 10 September 2021).

Why we inspected

We received concerns in relation to staffing at night and medicine management. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the safe section of this full report.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Willow Lodge on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Recommendations

We have made a recommendation about recruitment.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.