Archived: Amy Woodgate

Updated 22 May 2018

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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Before the inspection we reviewed information we held about the service including a Provider Inspection Return (PIR) and any statutory notifications. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send us. A PIR is information that the provider is required to send to us, which gives us some key information about the service and tells us what the service does well and any improvements they plan to make.

This comprehensive inspection took place on 13 and 22 March 2018, the first day of the inspection was unannounced. One inspector and an expert by experience carried out this inspection. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

During the inspection we spoke with six people who used the service, one visitor, three relatives of people using the service, four staff members and the registered manager. We looked at three people’s care and support records. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service including staff training and recruitment, medicine administration and quality assurance checks. We received written feedback from six relatives and two external health and social care professional following our visits.

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 due to their complex health needs.

Updated 22 May 2018

Amy Woodgate 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 provides residential care and support for people who are living with dementia. Amy Woodgate can support up to 44 people, including two respite placements, across four units. Coombe Unit is a male only unit for up to four people. The Lodge provides support to up to 12 people who are assessed as being more independent. Richmond and Malden provide support to up to 14 people on each unit. At the time of our inspection the service was supporting 38 people.

A registered manager was in post. 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 legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

This inspection visit took place on 13 and 22 March 2018. Our first visit was unannounced.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

People using the service and their relatives were very positive about the care and support provided at Amy Woodgate. They said staff treated people respectfully and in a kind and caring manner.

We found people were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Individual care and support needs were fully assessed, documented and reviewed at regular intervals.

People were supported by staff who were trained and well supported in their job roles. Staff members had been safely recruited and had received an induction to the service. Staff we spoke with were confident that they provided a good service to people and said they would recommend Amy Woodgate to others. They had access to supervision and additional support when required.

A consistent established core team of staff provided continuity of care to the people staying there. Some relatives told us they would welcome more permanent staff on duty with the home relying less on agency staff.

People and their relatives or friends felt able to raise any concerns or complaints. There was a procedure in place for people to follow if they wanted to raise any issues. Staff also said they felt comfortable in raising any concerns should they have any.

Staff had received training around safeguarding vulnerable people and knew what action to take if they had or received a concern.

People using the service and their relatives said how clean the home was kept.

The service was exceptionally well led. An experienced registered manager promoted high standards of care and person centred support for people using the service at Amy Woodgate. They monitored the quality of the service and made changes to improve the service provided when required. People who used the service, their relatives and staff found the registered manager and her staff to be approachable and responsive. Staff told us that they would welcome more engagement from senior organisational managers.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.