CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Woodside Hall Nursing Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that safeguarding, risk assessments, medicines, infection control, staffing and recruitment systems were safe. Risks were regularly reviewed and staff understood people's needs.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- People received personalised care from staff who knew their needs and preferences. The home supported choice, independence, communication, relationships, activities and end of life planning.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found clear management, regular audits and an open culture where people, relatives and staff could give feedback. Staff said they were supported and trained for their roles.
What inspectors found, March 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, personalised care, with some records and staffing improvements still planned.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 31 January 2023. Inspectors looked at Safe, Responsive and Well-led. They spoke with people, relatives, a friend and staff, observed care, and checked care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Good in all three areas inspected. People said they felt safe and were happy with their care. Inspectors found that risks, medicines and staffing were managed safely. Staff knew people well and supported their choices, communication needs, relationships and end of life wishes.
The home had a positive and open culture. People, relatives and staff spoke well of the management. The overall rating remained Good. Effective and Caring were not inspected during this visit, so the previous ratings for those areas were used when calculating the overall rating.
Personalised care
Staff knew people well and adapted care to their preferences, choices and changing needs. Inspectors saw people being supported in line with professional guidance.
“People were receiving a person-centred service that supported their needs.” from the report
Safety and risk management
Risks were assessed and reviewed. The home had safe systems for safeguarding, medicines, infection control and recruitment.
“Risks to people were assessed and managed to support them to stay safe whilst respecting their freedom.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were supported to make decisions and remain as independent as possible. Their choices were recorded and respected.
“People were supported to make choices and to have as much control and independence as possible.” from the report
Open management
People, relatives and staff described the home as well managed and approachable. Audits and feedback were used to identify improvements.
“There were clear and effective systems in place to monitor the quality of the service.” from the report
Some records still being updated
minorInspectors discussed records that needed review. The issue had already been identified and records were being updated, but families may want to ask whether this work is now complete.
“The issue had already been identified by the clinical lead and they were in the process of updating the records.” from the report
Permanent staffing
minorThe manager's development plan included recruiting more permanent staff. Ask how this may affect continuity and whether the plan has been completed.
“They said the main priority for the service was to recruit more permanent staff.” from the report
Activities were not always consistent
minorActivities and entertainment were available, but one person said there were sometimes periods when people had little to do.
“We sit around twiddling our thumbs sometimes, but the staff give us things to do, it's a nice place.” from the report
- 01How many permanent staff are now working here, and has the plan to recruit more permanent staff been completed?
- 02Have all the records identified as needing review now been updated?
- 03What activities are available each day, and how do you respond when people say there is little to do?
- 04How are staffing levels reviewed when people's needs increase?
- 05How will my relative's communication needs, choices and end of life wishes be recorded and kept up to date?
This was a focused inspection of Safe, Responsive and Well-led; Effective and Caring were not inspected and their previous ratings were used for the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 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, June 2017
Woodside Hall Nursing Home was rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe and personalised care, with two recommendations and a new manager taking up post.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 16 May 2017. Two inspectors spoke with people, relatives and staff, observed care and mealtimes, and checked care records, staff files, complaints, accident records and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, suitable training, respectful care and detailed plans based on people's needs and preferences.
The home had remained Good since the previous inspection. Inspectors made recommendations about signing and dating handwritten instructions from GPs, and involving a pharmacist in decisions about medicines hidden in food. The activity coordinator had left, although activities were continuing while the service recruited.
Personalised care
Staff knew people's needs, communication methods, histories and preferences. Care plans gave staff clear guidance about how to support each person.
“Staff knew each person well and understood how to meet their support and communication needs.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors saw staff treating people with kindness and respect. People were supported with privacy, dignity and independence.
“Staff spoke with people and supported them in a very caring, respectful and friendly manner.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
There were enough staff to meet people's needs, and medicines were stored, given and recorded safely. Recruitment checks were also thorough.
“There were sufficient numbers of staff on shift to meet people's needs in a safe way.” from the report
Good food and health support
People were supported to eat and drink enough, with alternatives for those who wanted them. The home referred people to health professionals when needed.
“People were supported to eat, drink and maintain a balanced diet.” from the report
Handwritten medicine instructions
needs fixingInspectors recommended that handwritten instructions from GPs should be signed and dated by two staff members to reduce the chance of errors.
“However it is a recommendation that any hand written GP directives are signed and dated by two staff members to avoid any errors.” from the report
Decisions about hidden medicines
needs fixingWhen medicines were hidden in food, inspectors recommended involving the pharmacist because another form of the medicine might be available.
“However it was recommended that the pharmacist was also involved in the decision making as the medicine may be available in a different form such as liquid or a patch.” from the report
Activity coordinator vacancy
minorThe activity coordinator had left and the organisation was recruiting. Activities continued through staff, visitors and entertainers while the post was vacant.
“The activity co-ordinator had recently left and the organisation was recruiting to the post.” from the report
Change in manager
minorThe registered manager had recently resigned. A replacement manager was in their first week and planned to apply to become registered.
“An appointed manager was in their first week in post and confirmed that they will be submitting an application to CQC to register as manager.” from the report
- 01How are handwritten instructions from GPs checked, signed and dated now?
- 02When medicines need to be hidden in food, how is the pharmacist involved in the decision?
- 03Who currently plans and leads activities while the activity coordinator post is being filled?
- 04Has the new manager completed the application to register with CQC?
- 05How are care plans updated when a person's health or communication needs change?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five key questions and the overall quality of the service; the home had been rated Good at the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 June 2017 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 Woodside Hall Nursing Home
4 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- March 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2015Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: InadequateResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 24 January 2011.
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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