CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Willows Residential Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm, and there were enough staff to meet their needs. Inspectors found missing employment history checks and an unlocked medicines facility, but the medicines issue was corrected during the visit and recruitment changes were made afterwards.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. The report says ratings for key questions not inspected were carried forward from the previous inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. The report nevertheless records that people received kind and compassionate care and that their privacy and dignity were respected.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. The report says people were supported to pursue their interests, goals and aspirations.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had a positive culture, effective auditing systems and a manager who was described as supportive and knowledgeable. People, relatives and staff were involved in giving feedback and improvements.
What inspectors found, January 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe care and strong leadership, but staff checks and medicine storage needed attention.
Inspectors visited on 15 December 2022 and spoke with four people, three staff members and the registered manager. They reviewed care records, recruitment files, training records and audits.
The inspection looked mainly at whether the home followed the principles of right support, right care and right culture. People were supported to make choices, build independence and take positive risks. Staff were described as kind and compassionate, and there were enough staff to meet people's needs.
Safe and well-led were both rated Good. The other three areas were not inspected during this visit, so their ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection. The home was rated Good at the previous inspection on 5 October 2018.
Choice and independence
People were supported to make choices, develop life skills and take positive risks in a way that promoted independence.
“The service supported people to have choices and promoted their independence.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors found that staff treated people with kindness and protected their privacy and dignity.
“People received kind and compassionate care from staff.” from the report
Enough staff
Staffing levels were sufficient during the visit, including for outings and one-to-one support.
“There were sufficient staff at the time of the visit to support people's social and care needs.” from the report
Positive leadership
The home had a positive culture focused on helping people be as independent as possible. Audits were used to monitor and improve the service.
“There was a positive culture throughout the service which focussed on providing people with high standards of support to help them be as independent as possible.” from the report
Recruitment checks
needs fixingSome staff files did not contain a full employment history. Inspectors recommended that the home make sure all checks are completed before staff start work, although changes had been made after the inspection.
“However, checks such as those that required a full employment history were missing.” from the report
Medicine storage
seriousBlister packs containing people's medicines were stored in an unlocked facility. This was corrected immediately, but the arrangement could have put people at risk.
“However, an issue with unsafe storage of medicines was identified.” from the report
- 01Have all staff employment histories and other recruitment checks now been completed and recorded before employment?
- 02How are medicines stored securely now, and how often is this checked?
- 03How are people's personal emergency evacuation plans kept up to date and practised after the recent fire?
- 04How does the home support people to take positive risks while keeping them safe?
- 05What feedback has the home received from people and relatives, and what changes were made as a result?
This was an inspection focused on Safe and Well-led and included infection prevention and control; the other key question ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 January 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.
What inspectors found, October 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care with strong support for people's choices.
This was an announced comprehensive inspection on 30 August 2018. The inspector reviewed records, medicines, staffing, training, meals, the building and management systems. They also spoke with four people living at the home, one relative, two support workers and the registered manager, and observed care.
The home supported six adults with learning disabilities. Inspectors found suitable staffing, safe medicines systems, reviewed risk assessments and appropriate training. People were supported to choose meals, activities and trips, and to have as much control over their lives as possible.
Staff were described as kind, respectful and patient. Care plans included people's preferences and involved families. The home was rated Good in all five areas and overall. It had also been rated Good at the previous inspection in March 2016, with no serious risks or concerns found in this inspection.
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors saw staff being sensitive, caring and patient. People and relatives also gave positive feedback about how staff treated them.
“We found staff were sensitive, kind and caring to all the people in their care.” from the report
Personal choice
People were supported to choose meals, make snacks, go out and follow activities that interested them. Their care plans recorded their preferences.
“Each person had their own interests which they liked to follow.” from the report
Safe medicines and staffing
Medicines were ordered, given, stored and disposed of safely. Inspectors also found enough trained staff to provide the care people needed.
“We saw medicines were ordered appropriately, administered as prescribed and stored and disposed of correctly.” from the report
Involved care planning
People and families were involved in planning care. Records included current needs, personal preferences and accessible picture-based information.
“Care records contained information about people's current needs as well as their preferences.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The registered manager used audits, meetings, surveys and a suggestion box to monitor the home and seek people's views.
“The registered manager had systems and procedures in place to monitor and assess the quality of their service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you assess and record my relative's individual needs before they move in?
- 02How would you support my relative to choose their meals, activities and outings?
- 03How do you check that medicines are given at the right time and recorded correctly?
- 04What staffing levels and staff training would be in place for my relative's needs?
- 05How would you work with healthcare professionals if my relative's health needs changed or end of life care became necessary?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering the overall quality of the care home, including the premises and care provided, and all five CQC questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 October 2018 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 The Willows Residential Care Home
3 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at The Willows Residential Care Home →
- October 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at The Willows Residential Care Home →
- March 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2015
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 10 December 2015.
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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
85 live-in carers within about an hour of Lancashire
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. 78 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“She understands the needs of an elderly person in the early stages of dementia and has treated my mother with great kindness and skill.”
“Thanks to Tracy, Dad was always immaculately dressed and clean, his meals were all home cooked and nutritionally well balanced and his home was always kept really clean and tidy.”
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.