CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Woodlands House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors checked falls management, medicines and infection control. They found suitable arrangements in these areas, but did not review the whole Safe area.
- 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?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, July 2023
Woodlands House: Inspected but not rated; inspectors found effective arrangements for falls, medicines and infection control.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 19 June 2023. It followed concerns about medicines and falls management. One inspector spoke with the manager, four relatives and three people, and checked care plans, accident records, medicines information and infection control records.
Inspectors found that falls were assessed and investigated properly. Care plans contained information to reduce risks, and people's plans were reviewed after falls. Medicines were stored, given and recorded safely, and staff had regular checks of their skills.
The home also had suitable infection control arrangements, including the safe use of protective equipment. The service was inspected but not rated. Its last rating was Good, published in May 2020, and that rating was not reviewed because this inspection did not cover all areas.
Falls management
The home used risk assessments, post-fall checks and reviews of care plans. Inspectors found that investigations into witnessed and unwitnessed falls were effective.
“Investigations into witnessed and unwitnessed falls had been conducted effectively.” from the report
Medicines
Medicines were stored securely and records of medicines received, given and disposed of were accurate. Staff had regular checks of their competence.
“Accurate records were maintained of medicines received into the service, administered, and disposed of.” from the report
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had arrangements to prevent and manage infections, including safe use of protective equipment.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Family involvement
The manager had met with a family member to discuss care, and actions were taken to reduce the person's risk of falls.
“Records demonstrated the registered manager met with a family member to discuss their loved one's care.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you investigate witnessed and unwitnessed falls, and how quickly are care plans reviewed afterwards?
- 02How often are staff checked as competent to give medicines?
- 03How do you make sure medicines given as needed have clear instructions and are reviewed with people's GPs?
- 04What arrangements are currently in place to prevent and manage infection outbreaks?
- 05When will the next comprehensive inspection review all five areas of care?
This was a targeted inspection of falls, medicines and infection control under Safe; the full Safe rating and the other key question ratings were not reviewed, so the previous ratings carry over. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 July 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, May 2020
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind care with outstanding personalised activities and end of life support.
Inspectors visited without notice on 4 and 10 March 2020. They spoke with people living at the home, relatives, visitors and staff. They also observed care and checked care plans, medicines records, staff files, risk assessments, complaints and quality checks.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe, Effective, Caring and Well-led were rated Good. Responsive was rated Outstanding. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, clean surroundings, suitable support with food and healthcare, and kind care that respected people's choices and dignity.
The strongest findings were about personalised care, activities and end of life support. The home helped people use their skills, stay socially connected and take part in meaningful activities. The rating for Safe improved from Requires Improvement at the previous inspection. Responsive improved from Good to Outstanding, while the other ratings stayed Good.
Personalised care
Care was designed around people's individual interests, skills, routines and wellbeing. Staff adapted support when people's circumstances changed.
“The provider had fostered an overwhelmingly person- centred approach to delivering care.” from the report
Meaningful activities
People could take part in varied activities, trips and community links. Inspectors found these helped improve motivation, mood, independence and social interaction.
“The service went above and beyond to recognise and respond to people's needs for social interaction and mental stimulation.” from the report
End of life support
The home supported people and families to discuss wishes and receive personalised, dignified care. Inspectors found many people were able to remain in the home at the end of life.
“The provider had implemented a best practice approach to providing high quality end of life care.” from the report
Safety and staffing
Inspectors found enough staff and safe systems for medicines, emergencies, infection control and managing risks.
“There were enough staff in place to meet people's needs.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you tailor activities to my relative's interests, skills and communication needs?
- 02How would you support my relative if they were living with dementia or needed a quieter environment?
- 03How do you assess staffing levels when people's needs change?
- 04How would you involve my relative and our family in recording and reviewing end of life wishes?
- 05How can relatives view care records and share feedback with staff?
This was a planned inspection of the whole care home, including the premises and care provided, and it assessed all five CQC questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 May 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 Woodlands House
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- July 2023Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- May 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- July 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2015GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 8 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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26 live-in carers within about an hour of Hampshire
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 £1,260 a week. 23 can care for a couple. 14 years' experience on average.
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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.