CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Willowdene Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control procedures were being followed. This included PPE, testing, social distancing, hygiene, visitors and outbreak management.
- 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, December 2020
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control measures were safe.
Inspectors visited the home on 12 November 2020. This was an announced, targeted inspection during the coronavirus pandemic. It looked only at infection prevention and control.
Inspectors found enough personal protective equipment, safe use of PPE, suitable testing arrangements and measures to support social distancing. They were also assured that the home could prevent and manage infection outbreaks.
The home was inspected but not rated. This report does not give an overall quality rating or ratings for care, effectiveness, kindness, responsiveness or management.
PPE supplies
There was enough personal protective equipment, and it was easy for staff to access throughout the home.
“The home had enough supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) that was readily available in PPE stations throughout the home.” from the report
Safer layout
The home changed parts of its layout to reduce contact between staff and support social distancing.
“The management promoted social distancing and made changes to the environment to reduce the risk of the spread of infections.” from the report
Agency staff support
Agency staff received information about infection control and worked alongside experienced staff who guided them.
“Agency staff worked alongside experienced staff who offered guidance on the home's practices.” from the report
Staff wellbeing
Staff said they felt supported, and there were arrangements to help with stress and returning to work after sickness.
“Staff felt supported by the registered manager and the deputy manager.” from the report
Infection control champions
The home had nominated staff to share good infection prevention practice with colleagues.
“The home had identified staff to be infection prevention and control champions.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are visitors currently prevented from catching or spreading infections?
- 02How do you make sure staff and agency staff use PPE and follow hand hygiene procedures correctly?
- 03How are new residents admitted safely and tested for infections?
- 04Who are the current infection prevention and control champions, and how do they share good practice?
- 05What arrangements are in place now to prevent and manage an infection outbreak?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; it was not a full inspection and the service was not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 December 2020 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, February 2020
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some records still needing improvement.
Inspectors carried out an unannounced planned re-inspection on 23 January 2020. They spoke with people, a relative and staff, observed care, and checked care, medicines, staff and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough suitably skilled staff, safe medicines management, kind care, good support with food and health needs, and care that adapted to people's choices.
The rating had improved from Requires Improvement at the previous inspection in June 2018. Earlier breaches about risk management, medicines, care records and governance had been addressed, although inspectors still found gaps in some fluid balance and supplementary records.
Safe medicines
Medicines were checked, stored and given safely. Staff were trained and their competence was checked.
“Medicines were safely managed. They were appropriately checked, stored and administered.” from the report
Personalised support
Care records gave staff detailed information, and care was adapted around people's routines, wishes and changing needs.
“People received good care which met their needs, wishes and preferences. Care records provided detailed information to support the delivery of good care.” from the report
Staffing and teamwork
Inspectors found enough staff with the right skills and experience. Staff worked well together and responded to people's needs.
“There were enough staff on duty with the right skills and experience to look after people.” from the report
Improvement since the previous inspection
The home had addressed the earlier problems with risk management, medicines, food, staff support, care records and governance.
“At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.” from the report
Fluid balance records
needs fixingInspectors found gaps in records of people's fluid intake. The manager began addressing this during the inspection.
“We provided feedback to the manager about gaps in fluid balance records. These had started to be addressed straight away.” from the report
Supplementary care records
needs fixingThe home's quality checks had improved, but some supplementary records still needed to be completed fully.
“Continued improvements were needed to ensure supplementary records were fully completed. The registered manager was addressing this.” from the report
- 01How do you now check that fluid balance records are complete, especially for people at risk of dehydration?
- 02Which supplementary care records were incomplete, and how will you make sure they are completed consistently?
- 03How would you respond if my relative's needs changed after moving in?
- 04How are medicines checked and staff competency reviewed?
- 05How will you keep families involved in care planning and reviews?
This was an unannounced planned re-inspection covering all five CQC questions; it followed an earlier inspection report that had been withdrawn because of an issue with some information gathered. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 February 2020 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 Willowdene Care Home
4 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- December 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- February 2020Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2018Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2016Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 10 December 2010.
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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47 live-in carers within about an hour of County Durham
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 £960 to £1,210 a week. 42 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Petty introduced herself to Mum every time she was caring for her and responded very quickly to Mum if she was distressed in the night.”
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.