CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Woodlands
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control. This included PPE, testing, visiting arrangements, cleaning, admissions and the infection control policy.
- 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?
- Requires improvement
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, May 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control at The Woodlands.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 17 May 2021. It looked at how the home was preventing and controlling COVID-19 infections.
Inspectors were assured that the home was using personal protective equipment safely, arranging testing, managing visits and admissions, and following shielding and social distancing rules. They were also assured that the premises were clean and that the infection control policy was up to date.
The home helped people keep in touch with relatives during visiting restrictions. People could use video calls, spend time in the garden, go for walks and access the local community.
The service was inspected but not rated. This report does not give an overall quality rating or ratings for most of the five key questions.
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that PPE was being used safely and effectively.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Keeping in touch
People were supported to stay in contact with relatives in different ways when visiting restrictions were in place.
“This included facetime calls when visiting restrictions were in place.” from the report
Clean premises
The home was clean and had introduced extra cleaning to reduce the risk of infection spreading.
“Additional cleaning had been implemented to lower the risk of cross transmission of infection.” from the report
Support for staff
Staff had access to wellbeing support during periods of anxiety.
“Staff were supported by the registered manager and provider during periods of anxiety.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are visits currently arranged, and what happens if infection restrictions are introduced again?
- 02How often are people and staff tested, and how are the results recorded?
- 03How do you make sure staff use PPE safely and receive any updated training?
- 04How do you keep the infection prevention and control policy up to date?
- 05How do you support each person to stay involved in the community and keep in touch with relatives?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic; the service was inspected but not rated and the report does not provide a full assessment of the other areas of care. This explanation was written from the published report of 25 May 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.
What inspectors found, September 2019
Rated Good overall, but inspectors found the home was not always well-led because quality checks were incomplete.
This was an unannounced inspection on 31 July and 1 August 2019. One inspector spoke with five people, three relatives and six staff. They reviewed care, medicines, recruitment, training and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring and Responsive. Inspectors found people were protected from abuse, supported by skilled and kind staff, involved in decisions, and helped to lead active and independent lives.
Well-led was rated Requires Improvement. Quality audits were not always recorded properly or suited to the home. The report says people were not at risk of harm from this concern, but improvements were needed.
Kind and respectful staff
People and relatives described staff as kind, empathetic and respectful. Inspectors observed positive interactions and support that protected privacy and dignity.
“People were supported by kind and caring staff who displayed empathy and compassion.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were involved in decisions about their care and daily lives. Staff encouraged people to do things for themselves, including laundry, work and appointments.
“The staff encourage me to be independent and do things for myself.” from the report
Safe care
Inspectors found effective safeguarding, risk management, staffing and medicines arrangements. The home was also clean and infection control procedures were followed.
“Systems and processes were in place to protect people from abuse and we saw these worked effectively.” from the report
Activities and community life
People were supported to take part in activities they chose, as well as education, voluntary work and community groups.
“People were supported to engage in activities of their choice.” from the report
Quality audits were incomplete
needs fixingSome checks were carried out but not recorded, so it was not always possible to see what had been checked. Some audit forms provided by the new provider were not suitable for this type of home.
“Audit systems in place to check the quality of the service were not always effective.” from the report
Training was not fully up to date
needs fixingThe training record showed that not all staff had completed mandatory training at the time of inspection. New training had been arranged, with completion expected by the end of August 2019.
“The registered manager showed us the training matrix which showed staff were not all up to date regarding mandatory training.” from the report
- 01What audit records are now being completed, and how do you check that all required checks have been done?
- 02Have all staff completed the mandatory training that was expected by the end of August 2019?
- 03What changes have been made to the audit forms supplied by the new provider?
- 04How do people and relatives continue to influence care plans and daily choices?
- 05How do you check that staff understand each person's communication needs and preferences?
This inspection looked at all five CQC questions, including the care provided and how the home was run. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 September 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 Woodlands
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- May 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- September 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 March 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.
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 Staffordshire
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 £1,230 a week. 85 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“We particularly appreciate the companionship Dawn gives in the evenings when she plays cards and Scrabble with my mother.”
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.