CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Orchid Woodlands Healthcare Ltd
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, February 2023
Rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found kind care but serious medicines, records and oversight problems.
This was the first inspection under the current provider. Inspectors visited the home unannounced on 25 and 26 January 2023. They spoke with people, relatives and staff, and checked care records, medicines, safety records and quality checks.
The home was rated Good for Caring. People said staff were kind, patient and respectful. The home was clean, people were offered choices, and staff supported people to make decisions and keep their independence.
The other four areas were rated Requires Improvement. Inspectors found unsafe medicines management, gaps in safety checks, poor detail in accident and care records, inconsistent audits, limited activities and high use of agency staff. The kitchen was not fully operational and the building needed redecoration.
The overall rating means there was limited assurance about safety and that some people's needs were not always met. The provider was told to send an action plan, and CQC said it would monitor progress with the provider and local authority.
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives were positive about the staff. Inspectors saw reassurance, choice, dignity and encouragement during care.
“People told us they were happy with the care provided and liked the staff who supported them.” from the report
Clean home
The home was clean and staff used protective equipment appropriately. Infection control policies were up to date.
“The home was clean with effective cleaning and infection control processes in place.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were offered choices about their care and daily routines. Staff encouraged people to do tasks they could manage themselves.
“People told us they were offered choices and able to make decisions about their care, such as what to wear and how they spent their time.” from the report
Support with food and health
People said they had enough to eat and drink and were offered choices. Staff monitored weight and involved health professionals when needed.
“People told us they received enough to eat and drink and enjoyed the meals provided.” from the report
Medicines were not managed safely
seriousTen morphine injections recorded in the controlled drugs register could not be found. Medicines were also stored and recorded incorrectly, and some time-critical medicines were not given at the right time.
“Systems, processes and record keeping relating to the management of medicines were not robust. This placed people at the risk of harm.” from the report
Weak safety checks and records
seriousSome equipment certificates were out of date and required checks were missed. Accident records did not explain clearly what had happened or what action was taken.
“Systems to assess, monitor and mitigate risks to the health, safety and welfare of people using the service had not been completed consistently.” from the report
Too few activities
needs fixingPeople reported boredom and there was no activity timetable during the inspection. A timetable was introduced after the first inspection day, but CQC planned to check this again.
“There was a lack of activities and stimulation being provided to people living at the home.” from the report
High use of agency staff
needs fixingStaff turnover had been high and agency workers were being used while recruitment continued. Relatives questioned whether agency staff provided care to the same standard as permanent staff.
“However, some relatives queried the high use of agency staff and whether the care they provided was of the same standard as permanent staff members.” from the report
- 01What has been done to make sure all medicines, including controlled drugs, are safely stored, checked and recorded?
- 02How are accident, incident, personal care, repositioning and food and fluid records now checked for completeness?
- 03Has the activity timetable introduced after the inspection continued, and how often are activities now provided?
- 04How are agency staff inducted and checked as competent before working at the home?
- 05What is the timetable for completing the building redecoration and kitchen work?
This was the first comprehensive inspection under the current provider and covered all five CQC questions, including medicines, care records, safety systems, infection control and governance. This explanation was written from the published report of 28 February 2023 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Orchid Woodlands Healthcare Ltd
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- February 2023Requires improvementcurrent ratingSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
Read what inspectors found at Orchid Woodlands Healthcare Ltd →
- December 2021
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 29 December 2021.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Bolton
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £980 to £1,260 a week. 92 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Primrose is a very kind and compassionate healthcare professional”
“He developed a close affinity with Terence, spending time talking with him before he retired to bed and looking after his needs during the night.”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.