The Care Quality Commission
  • Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Woodacre

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

38 D'arcy Road, Tolleshunt Knights, Tiptree, Essex, CO5 0RR (01621) 819769

Provided and run by:
MacIntyre Care

All Inspections

10 July 2015

During a routine inspection

The inspection took place on 10 July 2015 and was unannounced. Woodacre provides accommodation and personal care for up to 15 people who have a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder. People who use the service may also have a physical disability.

The service had a registered manager in post. 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 associate Regulations about how the service is run.

The service was meeting the requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLs). Appropriate mental capacity assessments and best interest decisions had been undertaken by relevant professionals. This ensured that the decision was taken in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005, DoLs and associated Codes of Practice.

People were safe because staff supported them to understand how to keep safe and staff knew how to manage risk effectively. There were sufficient numbers of care staff on shift with the correct skills and knowledge to keep people safe. There were appropriate arrangements in place for medicines to be stored and administered safely.

Staff had good relationships with people who used the service and were attentive to their needs. People’s privacy and dignity was respected at all times.

People and their relatives were involved in making decisions about their care and support. Their care plans were individual and contained information about how they preferred to communicate and their ability to make decisions.

People were encouraged to take part in activities that they enjoyed, and were supported to keep in contact with family members. When needed, they were supported to see health professionals and referrals were put through to ensure they had the appropriate care and treatment.

Relatives and staff were complimentary about the management of the service. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities in providing safe and good quality care to the people who used the service.

The management team had systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service provided.

12 November 2013

During a routine inspection

We saw that staff treated people with respect and encouraged them to make choices and express their views. It was evident that staff knew people well and were caring in the way they supported people.

Relatives were complimentary about the service and happy with the quality of care. A relative who completed a survey as part of the home's quality assurance process said: "We are very happy with the care that X is receiving." Another relative said: "This is X's home. They are very happy at Woodacre. The care is really great." We saw that the service responded to people's needs effectively.

People that we spoke with told us they felt safe living in Woodacre. They told us that they were confident that if they had any concerns they would be acted upon and addressed.

Staff working at Woodacre were well trained and received regular support and supervision which ensured that their practice was current and up to date.

The environment at Woodacre was homely and people's bedrooms were decorated according to their preferences.

The provider had processes in place to seek the opinions of people who lived at Woodacre and their relatives. They also carried out checks to monitor the quality and safety of the service.

Records we saw were current and up to date and were stored safely and securely to ensure that peoples confidentiality was maintained.

5 March 2013

During a routine inspection

During our inspection we used a number of different methods to help us understand the experiences of people who lived at the home because they had complex needs which meant they were not able to tell us their experiences. Staff who we spoke with had a good understanding of people's needs and how these should be met. They used a range of methods to promote effective communication with people and to involve them as much as was possible in decisions about their care.

The care records provided clear guidance to staff about how to meet people's needs and were written in a way that was very person centred. There was evidence that people had been supported to have their healthcare needs met when required.

The staffing levels provided at the home were adequate to ensure that people's needs were met and that they were supported to play an active part in their community. Staff we spoke with were positive about supporting the people who lived at the home.