CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Valley Wood
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm, with enough staff, safe recruitment, safe medicines systems and infection control. They identified issues with window restrictors and the storage of returned medicines, and the provider took immediate action.
- Effective?
- Good
- People had assessments and care plans, staff received training and support, and people were helped with food, drink and healthcare. The building was clean and suitable overall, although more work was needed to help people with dementia navigate around the home.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were kind and patient, understood people's needs and preferences, and gave people time to communicate. People were involved in decisions, and their privacy, dignity and independence were supported.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care was personalised and reflected people's choices, communication needs and goals. People could take part in activities inside and outside the home, and complaints were investigated and responded to.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found a positive culture, visible management and staff who felt supported and able to raise concerns. Audits were used to identify issues and improve care, and people, relatives and staff were asked for feedback.
What inspectors found, August 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some improvements made during the inspection.
This was the first inspection of the newly registered home. It was unannounced and took place on 5, 9 and 22 June 2023. Two inspectors and an Expert by Experience visited, spoke with 7 residents, 20 relatives and staff, and reviewed care and staff records.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines management, suitable care plans, kind staff and good support for people's choices, communication, activities and healthcare.
Inspectors identified a few issues during the visit. Window restrictors were not operated in line with best practice, some returned medicines needed more secure storage, and more work was needed to help people with dementia find their way around the home. The provider took immediate action on the first two points and said further work would be done on dementia support.
Safe staffing and recruitment
Inspectors found enough staff to respond to people promptly, and recruitment checks had been completed safely.
“We observed staff interacting with people and found there were sufficient staff available to respond to people in a timely way.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff understood people's needs and preferences, treated them kindly and patiently, and supported their privacy and independence.
“People were treated well by staff who were kind and patient with them.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans reflected people's preferences and goals. Staff supported communication and offered choices about care, meals and activities.
“People received personalised care which met their needs and reflected their choices.” from the report
Open management
The management team was visible and staff felt able to raise concerns. Audits and feedback were used to identify improvements.
“People, relatives, and staff predominantly felt involved and listened to.” from the report
Window restrictors
needs fixingWindow restrictors were not operated with a key or special device as recommended by best practice guidance. The provider took immediate action after inspectors raised this.
“However, the window restrictors were not operated by a key or a special device in line with best practice guidance.” from the report
Returned medicines
needs fixingSome improvements were needed in how returned medicines were stored securely. The registered manager took immediate action to correct this.
“We identified some improvements were needed relating to the secure storage of returns medicine.” from the report
Dementia-friendly navigation
minorThe building met people's needs overall, but more work was needed to help people with dementia find their way around. The manager said this would include more personalisation of bedroom doors.
“However more work was required to support people with dementia to navigate around the home.” from the report
- 01What changes have been made to the window restrictors since the inspection?
- 02How are returned medicines stored now, and how is this checked?
- 03What changes have been made to help residents with dementia navigate around the home?
- 04How will you make sure each resident's communication needs and personal preferences continue to be reflected in their care plan?
- 05How are relatives' feedback and complaints recorded, investigated and used to improve care?
This was an unannounced first inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the care provided and the premises; there were no previous ratings to carry over. This explanation was written from the published report of 2 August 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.
Every inspection of Valley Wood
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- August 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2022
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 11 March 2022.
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
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90 live-in carers within about an hour of Sheffield
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 £1,020 to £1,270 a week. 76 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“Carla has been a god send with the implementation of bringing mum back home from respite care.”
“Beatrice was a talent dementia carer whose professionalism and dedication allowed mums wishes to remain in her own her come true.”
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.