CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Woodland House
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home was using personal protective equipment safely, accessing testing, maintaining hygiene and managing infection risks. The provider also said it had measures to reduce the risks linked to COVID-19 staffing pressures.
- 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?
- Outstanding
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and support for safe visits.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 28 January 2022. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and whether COVID-19 staffing pressures affected the home.
Inspectors found examples of good practice. The home had enough personal protective equipment, staff were trained to use it, and daily schedules supported cleanliness. People were supported to have an active social life, with COVID-19 testing used when they went out.
Inspectors were assured that the home was managing visitors, testing, shielding, social distancing, admissions and infection outbreaks safely. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give a Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate rating.
Safe social activities
People were supported to lead active social lives. Testing was used when activities involved going outside the home.
“Staff enabled people to lead an active social life and where it involved going out, they ensured people's safety by following appropriate COVID-19 testing regime.” from the report
Protective equipment
Staff had plentiful protective equipment and had been trained in how to use it.
“Staff had access to plentiful supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE), and all had received training in its use.” from the report
Clean environment
The home was described as clean and fresh, with daily schedules to help staff maintain hygiene.
“The home was clean and fresh and daily schedules were in place to ensure hygiene and cleanliness levels were maintained by staff.” from the report
Infection procedures
The provider had procedures for people who needed to self-isolate, with the aim of protecting both residents and their wellbeing.
“The provider ensured they followed appropriate procedures where people needed to self-isolate.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection prevention and control arrangements are in place now, and how have they changed since the inspection?
- 02How are visits managed now, including any testing or other safety arrangements?
- 03How do you manage staffing pressures when staff are absent because of COVID-19?
- 04How do you support residents to continue social activities safely?
- 05What arrangements are used if a resident needs to self-isolate?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19 staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas of care were not assessed in detail. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 February 2022 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 2019
Rated Outstanding; inspectors found highly personalised, safe care with especially strong responsiveness and leadership.
The inspection took place over four days in March and April 2019. One inspector visited the home, spoke with a person living there, staff, relatives and health professionals, and reviewed care files, staff records, medicines, incidents, complaints and quality checks.
The home supported three people with learning disabilities and autism. Inspectors found that care was safe, effective and caring, with Good ratings in these areas. Staff understood people's very specific needs and used positive behaviour support to reduce anxiety, self-harm and other incidents.
Responsive care and leadership were rated Outstanding. People had flexible daily schedules, personalised communication tools and support to take part in activities in the community. The manager used detailed records, feedback and audits to improve the service.
The overall rating was Outstanding. This was an improvement from Good at the previous inspection on 23 April 2016.
Personalised communication
The home used several communication methods to help people express choices, understand events and take part in care reviews. This reduced anxiety and helped people have a stronger voice.
“Other systems including laminated communication key rings, a picture exchange system (PECS), an alphabet wall, facial emotion cards, Makaton, computers and photographic tools.” from the report
Flexible activities
Staff adapted activities to people's moods, needs and sensory preferences. Records of activities were used to improve future care and help people take part in the community.
“As a result, staff could now support people who previously struggled to be able to go out into the community” from the report
Strong leadership
The manager used detailed monitoring, staff coaching and improvement plans to respond to people's needs. A separate flat and garden helped one person cope better and reduced incidents.
“This had strongly contributed to reducing their challenging behaviours by 90% over the last two years.” from the report
Safe medicines practice
The home had detailed medicines checks, staff training and competency assessments. Instructions for medicines used when needed were linked to behaviour support plans and signed off by health professionals.
“The provider had detailed systems in place for monitoring and auditing the safe management of medicines.” from the report
Good partnership working
The home worked with relatives, behaviour specialists and health professionals to understand people's needs and provide consistent support.
“The registered manager demonstrated a history of being an excellent role model for other services.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01Which staff would normally support my relative, and how would you maintain familiar support if someone is absent or agency staff are needed?
- 02How would you assess and review any medicine used when needed, including how you would prevent it being used too often?
- 03Which communication tools would you use for my relative, and how would their views be included in care reviews?
- 04How would you support my relative to take part in activities and go out into the community while managing anxiety or sensory needs?
- 05How would you review behaviour incidents, restrictions and positive behaviour support plans, and involve our family and health professionals?
This was a planned inspection that looked at all five key questions, including the premises, care, records, staffing, medicines, incidents, complaints and quality systems. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 May 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 Woodland House
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- May 2019Outstandingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- April 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2013
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 25 April 2013.
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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Central Bedfordshire
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 £1,260 a week. 83 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“We can all fully relax around Nyarai and she feels like part of our family, which is no mean feat!”
“She handled the new situation in front of her with such professionalism and I felt I could trust her 100%.”
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.