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
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found safe medicines management, suitable risk assessments, effective infection control and enough staff.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed and reviewed, and staff understood their individual wishes and healthcare needs. Staff received training, supervision and support.
- Caring?
- Good
- People had positive relationships with staff and were treated with dignity and respect. They were supported to make choices and develop independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's needs, preferences and changes in health. People were supported with accessible communication, meaningful activities and contact with family and friends.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The management team monitored care quality, acted on recommendations and maintained links with healthcare professionals and local communities. Staff described the management team as supportive and approachable.
What inspectors found, November 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind, personalised care and effective management.
The inspection took place on 10 October 2019 and was announced 24 hours in advance. One inspector spoke with two people, observed care, spoke with four staff members and the provider, and checked care, medicines, recruitment and quality records.
The inspectors found that people were safe and supported by enough trained staff. Medicines were managed safely, risks were assessed, and staff knew how to respond to abuse or emergencies.
People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. They were involved in decisions about their care, supported to make choices, take part in activities and develop independence. The home also supported access to healthcare, healthy food and contact with families and friends.
The overall rating was Good, with Good ratings in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was the same as the previous rating published on 4 May 2017.
Safe medicines support
Staff were trained and checked as competent before giving medicines. The provider also had systems to investigate possible medicines errors.
“People received their medicines safely. Staff members had been trained in the safe administration of medicines and were assessed as competent before supporting people.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw positive interactions between people and staff. People were treated with dignity, and staff respected their privacy.
“We saw many positive interactions between people and staff members.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were involved in decisions about their care, food and activities. Staff also supported people to make drinks and food and develop money skills.
“We saw people were supported to make decisions about their care and support.” from the report
Meaningful activities
People took part in activities they enjoyed, including music, gardening, household tasks and woodland crafts. They were also supported to keep in touch with family and friends.
“Throughout this inspection we saw people were involved in activities they enjoyed and found stimulating.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The provider used checks, including reviews of medicines and care planning, to identify improvements. Inspectors saw that a previous recommendation about risk details had been completed.
“The provider had systems in place to monitor the quality of the service that they provided.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you assess and review my relative's individual risks, including risks linked to mobility, diet and daily activities?
- 02How will you support my relative's preferred way of communicating, including the use of signs or other accessible information?
- 03What activities, community links and opportunities for independence would be available for my relative?
- 04How would you involve my relative and our family in developing and reviewing their care plan?
- 05How would you respond if my relative needed additional healthcare support or had a medicines error?
This was a planned inspection covering all five key questions; all five ratings remained Good from the previous inspection published on 4 May 2017. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 November 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.
What inspectors found, May 2017
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, caring and personalised support, with no breaches reported.
The inspection was announced and took place on 30 March and 3 April 2017. One inspector reviewed the provider's information, care records, medicines records, incident records, quality checks and two staff recruitment files. They spoke with two people living at the home, four relatives, staff, managers and a visiting health professional.
Five people were living at the home, which can support up to five people with learning disabilities who need nursing or personal care. Inspectors found enough staff, trained staff, safe recruitment checks and suitable support with medicines. People had individual risk assessments and emergency plans.
People were involved in decisions about their care, meals, activities and home. Staff knew people's histories, preferences and communication needs. Inspectors found kind relationships, respect for privacy and dignity, prompt access to healthcare, and care plans that were reviewed when needs changed.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The report says managers used checks, feedback and incidents to make improvements. It does not report any breached regulations or enforcement action.
Personalised support
People helped write their own care plans. Staff knew what people liked, disliked and found upsetting, so support could be adapted to each person.
“The care and support plans that we saw were personal to the individual.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw relaxed, caring relationships. Staff respected privacy, asked permission before providing personal care and supported people when they were upset.
“We saw people being treated with dignity and respect throughout this inspection.” from the report
Choice and independence
People chose what to do, eat, wear and watch. They were also supported with daily living skills such as laundry, changing beds and clearing up after meals.
“People were given the opportunity to make decisions about what they wanted to do, wear, eat, watch and listen to at this inspection.” from the report
Activities and community life
People took part in activities including shopping, swimming, work placements, music, gardening and going out for meals. They could also choose to relax at home.
“People were engaged in activities they found enjoyable and stimulating but also had time to relax.” from the report
Approachable management
People, relatives and staff said they could approach the management team. The provider gathered feedback and used checks and incident reviews to improve the service.
“The provider had systems in place to monitor the quality of service they provided and where necessary made changes to drive improvements.” from the report
Earlier medicine errors
minorStaff said there had been several medicine errors when the home first opened. The system was then changed to include extra checks and two staff supporting medicines, and staff reported no further errors.
“When The Woodlands first opened there were several medicine errors. We think this was because staff were new and unfamiliar to the systems.” from the report
- 01What extra medicine checks are now used, and how do you monitor that they continue to work?
- 02What is the current position of the pending Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards applications?
- 03How will my relative be involved in writing and reviewing their care and support plan?
- 04How do you provide extra staff when a person's needs increase?
- 05How can my relative and our family raise a concern or complaint, and how will it be followed up?
This was an announced inspection covering all five CQC questions and the overall rating, based partly on discussions with two people, four relatives and staff, and records for two people. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 May 2017 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.
- November 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2017GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2015
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 22 October 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.
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What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Telford and Wrekin
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 £1,200 a week. 88 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Knowing Mum was in Corina's care made an enormous difference to us and we knew she was in safe hands.”
“I have never met a person who is so kind and thinks about others before himself to such an extent as Chris Malagala.”
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.