The Willows Nursing home

Updated 29 January 2020

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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team:

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type:

The Willows 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 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:

The inspection was unannounced.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

During the inspection we spoke with one person using the service and five staff members which included the registered manager. Some people we met were not able to fully tell us about their experiences. We therefore used our observations of care and feedback gained to help form our judgements.

We reviewed three people’s care and support records, three staff files and all medicine administration records. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service such as incident and accident records, meeting minutes, training records, policies, audits and complaints.

After the inspection

We spoke with two relatives to gain feedback. We contacted four health and social care professionals and two further relatives for feedback. We received feedback from one health and social care professional.

Updated 29 January 2020

About the service:

The Willows Nursing Home provides accommodation and personal care for up to seven people with learning disabilities and complex support needs. At the time of the inspection seven people were living at the home.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People’s experience of using this service:

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.

People received care and support from staff who were kind, caring and committed. Staff knew people and their preferences well. There was a happy and friendly atmosphere.

People were supported to engage in different activities and local facilities were utilised. People’s relationships were supported and maintained. Plans ensured people’s preferred methods of communication were explained and supported.

Medicines were managed and administered safely. Assessments identified and managed risks. People’s healthcare needs were met. Guidance was in place to ensure staff acted promptly to any changes in people’s health conditions. The service had developed positive relationships with other health professionals.

The service was clean, tidy and homely. People had rooms decorated to their individual taste and which reflected their personalities. The service enjoyed an extensive garden which was used for activities.

The service was well led and managed. There was an open and honest culture where relatives and staff were comfortable to raise and share ideas.

Staff were supported through the providers induction, supervision and training programmes. Which promoted the service’s person-centred ethos and ensured staff developed in their roles.

For more details, please see the full report which is on CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection:

The last rating for this service was Good (published 30 May 2017).

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.