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 that the home was managing infection prevention and control, visiting, testing, PPE, cleaning and possible outbreaks safely. Staffing pressures linked to COVID-19 were discussed, and the provider said measures were in place to manage them.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, March 2022
The Willows was inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control and visiting arrangements.
This was a targeted inspection on 22 February 2022. It looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and whether COVID-19 staffing pressures affected the home. The inspection was announced with two days' notice.
Inspectors found that visitors were screened and given personal protective equipment. Staff had infection control training, used protective equipment effectively and had their skills checked. The home was clean, touch points were cleaned more often and weekly infection control audits were completed.
The home was carrying out COVID-19 testing and checking vaccination status as required at the time. Inspectors were assured that the home was managing infection risks, admissions, visiting and possible outbreaks. This was not a full inspection, so the home was inspected but not rated overall.
Infection control training
Staff had training in infection prevention and control and knew how to use protective equipment safely. Their competence and knowledge were checked regularly.
“Staff had received training on infection prevention and control measures and how to use PPE safely.” from the report
Clean environment
The home had increased cleaning of frequently touched surfaces and carried out weekly infection control audits.
“Additional cleaning measures of frequent touch points had been introduced in the home. All areas of the home were clean.” from the report
Safe visiting arrangements
Visitors were screened for COVID-19 and given protective equipment. A well-ventilated room near the entrance had been created for visits.
“The room was adjacent to the main entrance and was spacious with good ventilation.” from the report
Testing and vaccination checks
The home was testing residents and staff in line with current guidance. It also checked that staff and professional visitors were vaccinated or exempt.
“The provider had effective systems in place to check staff and professional visitors were vaccinated against COVID-19.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you currently managing staffing pressures, and have these affected residents' care or daily routines?
- 02What are the current visiting arrangements, and how would visits work if there were an infection outbreak?
- 03How do you now check and record COVID-19 or other infection risks for visitors, staff and residents?
- 04Are weekly infection control audits still carried out, and what happens when they identify a problem?
- 05What were the home's most recent ratings for Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led, since these areas were not assessed in this inspection?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the home was inspected but not rated overall. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 March 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 2019
Rated Good overall; inspectors found Outstanding responsiveness, kind support and clear improvements since the previous inspection.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection in December 2018. The inspector reviewed care plans, daily records, medicines records, staff files, audits and other documents. They observed daily interactions and a household meeting, and spoke with people, staff and social care professionals.
The home was rated Good overall. It was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring and Well-led. It was rated Outstanding for Responsive. Inspectors found safe medicines management, enough trained staff, personalised risk assessments and timely health referrals.
People were supported to make choices, maintain skills and work towards personal goals. Inspectors saw support with employment, holidays, community activities, relationships and more independent living. The home had improved from Requires Improvement at the previous inspection in October 2017, when two regulations had been breached.
Personalised safety support
Risk assessments were linked to people's routines, interests and behaviours. Staff supported people to take part in activities while managing identified risks.
“Risks to people's safety had been identified and assessed.” from the report
Skilled staff
Staff had training and knowledge suited to the needs of the people living in the home. The manager also provided tailored positive behaviour support training.
“The staff team were equipped with the skills and knowledge to support people's individual needs.” from the report
Respectful care
Inspectors saw warm relationships between people and staff. People's privacy, dignity and emotional wellbeing were taken seriously.
“People and staff understood the importance of supporting one another with maintaining people's privacy and dignity.” from the report
Strong support for independence
People were supported to work towards employment, qualifications, new activities and more independent living. They were also helped to enjoy holidays and community life.
“People enjoyed holidays and travel opportunities and were supported to research destinations of their choice.” from the report
Improved leadership
The management team had made the improvements required after the previous inspection. Audits, staff feedback and management oversight were used to monitor the home.
“There was a clear and credible management strategy for driving continual improvement at the service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you support my relative's particular communication needs, especially if they do not communicate in a standard way?
- 02How would you support my relative to take part in the activities, work or travel that matter to them?
- 03What positive behaviour support plans would be used if my relative became anxious or distressed?
- 04How would you involve my relative in decisions about medicines and help them become more independent with them?
- 05How would you review my relative's progress towards greater independence or moving to supported living?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions, the care provided and the home environment. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 January 2019 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
5 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- January 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- December 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- January 2017Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- September 2015Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- May 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 4 January 2011.
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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