Willow Brook Care Home

Updated 10 August 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 carried out by an inspector, a specialist advisor (nurse), 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.

Service and service type

Willow Brook Care Home 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 Brook Care Home 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 had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority, professionals who work with the service and Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. 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 of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

During the inspection we spoke with 5 people who used the service and observed how care and support was given generally. We got feedback from 4 relatives and 10 staff. We spoke with the registered manager and deputy manager. We looked at a range of records including all or part of 4 people's care records and how medicines were managed for people. We looked at staff training, and the provider's quality auditing system. During the inspection visit we asked the provider to give us additional evidence about how the service was managed, which they sent to us. We also received feedback from 6 health and social care professionals.

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 10 August 2023

About the service

Willow Brook Care Home is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to up to 49 people. The service provides support to older and younger adults and people living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 26 people using the service.

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

We have made a recommendation about the resources needed for staff to have access to the care records system.

People were protected from the risk of abuse. Relatives felt confident to raise concerns and felt their family members were cared for safely. Staff understood how to recognise and report concerns or abuse and felt confident to do this.

People’s needs were assessed and risks associated with their personal care and environment documented. Risks associated with the environment were assessed and mitigated. There were enough staff to keep people safe. The provider did checks to ensure staff were of good character and were fit to carry out their work.

People received their prescribed medicines safely. The service was kept clean and people were protected from the risk of an acquired health infection. There were systems and processes to monitor and assess accidents and incidents which were effective in reducing risks to people’s personal care.

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 service was well-led. People and relatives were positive about the care staff gave. Staff felt respected by the registered manager and management team which supported a positive culture.

Regular feedback was sought from people, relatives, and staff about the quality of the service. There was an emphasis on improvement and development of the service. The staff team worked well with health professionals to help achieve good outcomes for people.

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 under the previous provider was good (published 14 December 2019).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

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