CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Willows
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention, testing, safe admissions, visiting arrangements, the home’s cleanliness and the vaccination requirement for non-exempt staff and visiting professionals. The provider had measures to reduce the risks linked to COVID-19 staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, January 2022
The Willows was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and visiting arrangements during a targeted COVID-19 inspection.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 12 January 2022. It followed concerns about infection control and visiting arrangements, and also considered staffing pressures.
Inspectors found that national guidance on personal protective equipment and regular COVID-19 testing was being followed. PPE was available, staff had relevant training, and the home was clean and uncluttered.
The home had systems for safe admissions, visiting, testing and managing infection risks. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Infection prevention
The home followed national guidance on PPE and carried out regular COVID-19 testing. Staff had training in handwashing, infection prevention and control, and PPE use.
“National guidance was followed on the use of personal PPE and regular Covid 19 testing was taking place.” from the report
Safe visiting
The home used alternative arrangements during visiting restrictions, including video calls and a purpose-built pod for safer visits.
“The home had also built a pod to support people with safe visits.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean and uncluttered. Communal areas had been rearranged to support social distancing.
“The home was clean and uncluttered. Communal areas had been reorganised to promote social distancing.” from the report
Infection control systems
Inspectors were assured that the home had arrangements for preventing and managing outbreaks, keeping its policy up to date, and admitting people safely.
“We were assured that the provider's infection prevention and control policy was up to date.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you currently managing staffing pressures linked to COVID-19, and what impact could these have on my relative's care?
- 02What are the current visiting arrangements, and can relatives still use the visiting pod or video calls if needed?
- 03How often are residents and staff tested, and what happens if someone tests positive?
- 04How do you check that staff and visiting professionals meet the COVID-19 vaccination requirements or have an exemption?
- 05What changes have you made after being signposted to resources to develop your infection prevention and control approach?
This was an unannounced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 21 January 2022 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, January 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control arrangements were safe.
The home provides residential care for up to 21 people. There were 16 people living there during the inspection.
This was a targeted, announced inspection on 2 December 2020. Inspectors checked infection prevention and control arrangements because of the COVID-19 outbreak response.
Inspectors were assured that the home managed cleaning, visitors, social distancing, admissions, PPE, testing and infection outbreaks appropriately. They also found that people were supported to keep in touch with family and friends using video technology.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give an overall quality rating or a full rating for all five areas of care.
Infection control
The home carried out regular cleaning of bedrooms and shared areas to help prevent infection spreading.
“Staff managed infection control well. The service carried out regular cleaning of resident bedrooms and communal areas to prevent the spread of infection.” from the report
PPE and testing
Staff followed government PPE guidance, had PPE available and took part in COVID-19 testing.
“Staff were seen to be following the current government guidance in relation to the personal protective equipment (PPE) being used and engaged fully in the testing for COVID-19.” from the report
Family contact
People were supported to stay in contact with family and friends through video calls and management updates.
“People living at the home were supported to maintain contact with their families and friends via video technology and also received regular updates from the management team.” from the report
Professional visits
Health professionals had their temperatures checked, were encouraged to use new PPE and visits were followed by scheduled cleaning.
“Health professionals visiting the home had their temperatures taken and were encouraged to wear new PPE upon arrival.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection prevention and control arrangements are in place now?
- 02How do you test staff and residents for infections, and how are the results managed?
- 03How do you manage visits from families and health professionals safely?
- 04How do you support residents to keep in touch with family and friends if visits are restricted?
- 05When was the home last fully assessed for areas other than infection prevention and control?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control practices only; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 January 2021 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
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- January 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- January 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- April 2020GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2018
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 6 November 2018.
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
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Rochdale
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. 11 years' experience on average.
“Primrose is a very kind and compassionate healthcare professional”
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.