Willow Grange Care Home

Updated 30 December 2020

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC's response to care homes with outbreaks of coronavirus, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control practice was safe, and the service was compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 16 December 2020 and was announced.

Updated 30 December 2020

At our last inspection in January 2016, the service was rated 'Good'. At this inspection, the service continued to be good.

Willow Grange Care Home is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or 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.

Willow Grange Care Home provides residential care to older people. The home has three floors accommodating up to 46 people. On the day of our inspection visit 40 people lived at the home.

We carried out this comprehensive unannounced inspection on 1 August 2018.

A requirement of the service's registration is that they have 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 a legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. A registered manager was in post and had been for 17 years.

People felt safe and staff were available when people needed them. The provider's recruitment procedures minimised, as far as possible, the risks to people safety.

Procedures were in place to protect people from harm and staff knew how to manage risks associated with people’s care and support. Processes were in place to keep people safe in the event of an emergency such as, a fire. Accidents and incidents were monitored and action was taken to prevent them from happening again.

Medicines were handled safely and people received their medicines when they need them from trained staff. People received support and treatment from health professionals when needed.

The provider was working within the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and care workers supported them in the least restrictive way possible.

The home was clean and tidy and people's needs were met by the design of the building. Staff understand their responsibilities in relation to infection control which protected people from the risks of infection.

People enjoyed the food provided. Staff understood people’s dietary requirements and preferences.

New staff were provided with effective support when they started work at the home and people confirmed staff had the skills and knowledge they needed to provide their care and support.

People were treated as individuals and were encouraged to maintain relationships important to them. People's individual religious and spiritual needs were known and respected.

Peoples dignity and privacy was maintained and staff supported people to be as independent as they wished to be.

Staff were caring and the atmosphere at the home was warm and friendly. People planned and reviewed their care in partnership with the staff. Staff knew people well and people confirmed their care and support was personalised to their preferences.

People chose to take part in a variety of social activities which they enjoyed and people maintained positive links with their local community.

People knew how to make a complaint and felt comfortable doing so. No complaints had been received since our last inspection. People had opportunities to share their views on the service. The management team were responsive to people’s feedback which meant people were listened to.

Staff enjoyed working at the home and felt supported and valued by their managers. People spoke positively about the leadership at the home and the provider’s management team.

Effective systems to monitor and the review the quality of the home was in place.