Background to this inspection
Updated
31 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. 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 Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
This unannounced inspection was carried out by two inspectors, an inspection manager and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. In this case, older people and people living with dementia.
Service and service type
Woodlands Nursing Home 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 that 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
Before our inspection we reviewed information that we held about the service including statutory notifications that had been submitted. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send us. The provider had completed a Provider Information Return (PIR), however this had been submitted in 2018 so some information was out of date. Therefore, we discussed the changes that had been made since the last inspection with the registered manager and regional manager. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. This information helps support our inspections. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection we spoke with nine people who lived there, four of their relatives and nine staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, regional manager and care staff. We reviewed seven care plans and records relating to the management of the service. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.
Updated
31 July 2019
About the service
Woodlands Nursing Home providing accommodation for people who require nursing or personal care for up to 40 people. The service is set over two floors and has a secure garden area. At the time of the inspection there were 32 people living there, 26 of whom were receiving nursing care. The service is registered to care for older people, and people living with dementia.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found.
We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvement. Please see the Responsive section of this full report.
There were enough staff to keep people safe and meet their physical needs. Though people, relatives and staff told us that staff were task orientated and too busy to provide companionship to people. We observed times where people were lacking in stimulation.
People were supported to eat and drink enough. Though we observed that choice was not offered at one mealtime.
Infection prevention and control measures were in place and the home was visibly clean in all areas.
People told us they had close relationships with staff, and staff were kind and caring towards them.
Staff respected and promoted people’s privacy, dignity and independence within the home. Though, some people told us they would prefer to go on more trips out.
People were safe and protected from the risk of avoidable harm. There were detailed risk assessments in place which guided staff how to keep people safe.
Systems and processes were in place to safeguard people from abuse. Staff understood the signs of potential abuse and how to respond.
Medicines were stored, administered and disposed of safely by staff who were trained to do this.
Where accidents or incidents had occurred, lessons were learned to prevent the same thing happening again.
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.
A variety of activities were provided, including quizzes, entertainers and food tasting sessions.
End of life care plans were in place and people were supported and encouraged to express their preferences for if they became seriously ill.
The provider assessed the most appropriate form of communication people and could provide information in a way people with disability or sensory loss could understand.
Evidence based guidance such as NICE guidelines were used by the registered manager to plan and deliver effective care to people.
Staff received regular training, supervision and appraisals to support them in their role.
The home was decorated in a homely and comfortable way. Pictorial images were used to assist people living with dementia to navigate their way around.
People were referred to health care professionals appropriately and in a timely manner. Staff knew people’s up to date healthcare needs.
People, relatives and staff spoke highly of a supportive, fair and approachable management team.
The registered manager and registered provider completed audits and quality assurance processes to enable them to analyse and therefore identify where improvements might be required.
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published November 2016).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk