CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Wood Dene
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Staffing, recruitment, medicines, infection control and mental capacity arrangements were found to be safe, although some risk assessment updates had been delayed.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had clear communication, regular audits and a positive, inclusive culture. People, relatives and staff were invited to give feedback, and the provider acted on suggestions.
What inspectors found, March 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, person-centred care, with some risk assessments and care plans needing updates.
This was an unannounced inspection over visits on 15 December 2022 and 16 February 2023. Inspectors spoke with people, staff, relatives and health and social care professionals. They reviewed care plans, medicines records, staff files, rotas and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. People appeared happy and safe, and staff knew their needs and routines. There were enough staff during the visits, medicines were managed safely, and recruitment and infection control systems were suitable.
Some updates to risk assessments and care plans had been delayed during a period of staffing pressure. Inspectors recommended that the provider prioritise resources to complete this work. They found no evidence that people had been harmed because of the concern.
The overall rating remained Good, matching the previous rating published in April 2020. This inspection focused on Safe and Well-led, so the other ratings were not reassessed.
People felt safe
People told inspectors they felt happy and safe. The body language of people who communicated without speech also appeared relaxed and positive.
“Those people we spoke with told us they felt happy and safe with the staff.” from the report
Enough suitable staff
Staffing levels matched the rota during the visits and met people's needs safely. Recruitment checks and staff training were also in place.
“There were enough staff to meet people's care and support needs flexibly.” from the report
Safe medicines practice
Inspectors found that medicines were given as prescribed, stored and audited safely, and that records were complete.
“People received their medicines as prescribed.” from the report
Person-centred culture
The home supported people's privacy, dignity, choices, interests and access to the community. People were involved in developing the service.
“The culture at Wood Dene was inclusive, person-centred and achieved good outcomes for people.” from the report
Learning and oversight
The provider investigated incidents and complaints, used audits and recorded progress on improvements.
“The provider made sure the service improved people's care through continuous learning.” from the report
Delayed care plan updates
needs fixingSome risk assessments and care plans had not been updated promptly. Staffing pressures were given as the reason, and inspectors recommended prioritising resources to finish the work.
“We recommend the provider prioritise staff resources to help progress the work needed to review and update people's risk assessments and care plans with them.” from the report
- 01Have all the delayed risk assessments and care plans now been reviewed and updated with the people concerned?
- 02How do you check that staff are following each person's current risk assessment and behavioural support plan?
- 03What staffing changes and agency cover are in place now that new staff were being recruited and inducted?
- 04How will you keep us informed about changes, incidents or concerns affecting our relative?
- 05When were the Effective, Caring and Responsive areas last fully assessed, and what were their ratings?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe and Well-led; the other ratings were not inspected and were used from the previous inspection when calculating the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 March 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.
What inspectors found, April 2020
Wood Dene was rated Good in all five areas; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with some improvements still needed.
This was the first inspection since the home was registered. The visit was unannounced and took place on 21 February 2020. The inspector spoke with people living at the home, relatives, the manager and support workers, and reviewed records and information from other organisations.
Inspectors found that people felt safe and that there were enough staff. Medicines were managed safely, people received suitable food and drink, and their healthcare needs were recorded and supported. Staff treated people with kindness, respected their privacy and encouraged independence.
Care plans were personal and included people's routines, communication needs and preferences. People were supported to take part in activities, use the local community and raise concerns. The home was well run, with checks on quality and opportunities for people, relatives and staff to give their views.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors recommended that the home give people the chance to discuss and record their end of life wishes.
People felt safe
People told inspectors they felt safe. Staff had safeguarding training, understood how to respond to abuse and there were enough staff to meet people's needs.
“People felt safe and were protected from the risk of abuse.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw warm interactions between staff and people. Staff knew people's likes, dislikes and routines, and respected privacy and dignity.
“Warm and natural interactions were observed during the inspection between people using the service and staff.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were supported to make choices about their routines, food and care. Staff helped people build daily living skills such as cooking and washing clothes.
“People were encouraged to be part of daily living tasks such as washing their clothes and cooking.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's preferences, routines, communication needs and what good and bad days looked like. People were supported to take part in activities and go into the community.
“'How to support me well' sections gave staff relevant information which helped shape the care they needed to provide for people.” from the report
Good management oversight
The manager used audits and received monitoring from the provider. People, relatives and staff had opportunities to comment on the running of the home.
“There was a system of auditing quality and safety in the service with audits overseen by the registered manager.” from the report
Recruitment records
needs fixingOne staff file did not clearly show that a gap in employment history and an inaccurate application declaration had been followed up. The manager said the recruitment process would be strengthened.
“One staff member's file showed they had a gap in their employment history. Documentation needed to be clearer to show this was followed up.” from the report
Medicines refresher training
needs fixingFive staff needed medicines refresher training but could not access it because of technical problems. After the inspection, all but one had completed the training.
“Five members of staff needed medication refresher training which they could not access due to technical issues.” from the report
End of life wishes
needs fixingThe home had not explored people's end of life care wishes. Inspectors recommended giving people the opportunity to discuss and record them.
“End of life care wishes had not been explored” from the report
Sharing survey feedback
minorA satisfaction survey had produced an action plan, but feedback had not been formally given to people. The manager said this would be considered for the next survey.
“The 2019 satisfaction survey generated an action plan, although no feedback had been formally provided to people.” from the report
- 01Have you now strengthened checks on gaps in employment history and inaccurate information on staff application forms?
- 02Has the remaining staff member completed the medicines refresher training that was outstanding after the inspection?
- 03How will you discuss and record my relative's end of life care wishes?
- 04How do you share the results and action plans from satisfaction surveys with people living at the home?
- 05How will my relative be supported to build independence and take part in activities in the community?
This was the first inspection of the newly registered home and covered all five CQC questions, including both the premises and the care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 April 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 Wood Dene
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2020GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2019
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 25 January 2019.
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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