CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Woodside
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found suitable risk assessments, enough staff, safe medicines practice and improved infection control, although some restrictions were not clearly explained.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found clear management arrangements, effective audits and action plans, good teamwork and an approachable manager. The home had improved its policies and monitoring since the previous inspection.
What inspectors found, April 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, well-managed care, with some unclear restrictions and mixed family communication.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 16 March 2023. One inspector visited the home, an Expert by Experience made telephone calls, and inspectors spoke with people, staff, relatives and others. They also checked care plans, medicines records, safety records and meeting minutes.
The home was rated Good overall, with Safe and Well-led both rated Good. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe medicines practice, suitable risk assessments and improved infection control. People were described as safe, valued and supported to make choices and take part in activities.
The inspection followed a previous Requires Improvement rating and a breach about safe admissions and infection control. Inspectors found the required improvements had been made and the home was no longer in breach. This visit only assessed Safe and Well-led. The other question ratings were carried over from the previous comprehensive inspection.
Safe staffing
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs and support them to go out and take part in activities. Recruitment checks were also completed before new staff started.
“People were cared for by adequate numbers of staff to meet their needs.” from the report
Medicines
Medicines were given by trained staff whose competence had been checked. Records were clear, and staff worked with professionals to reduce unnecessary medicines where possible.
“Clear medication administration records were kept. Staff signed when administered or refused.” from the report
Personalised support
Staff knew people well and supported their choices, interests, friendships and family contact. Inspectors saw respectful and friendly interactions.
“People were supported to take part in activities which interested them and maintain contact with friends and family.” from the report
Improved management
The home had clear responsibilities, regular checks and action plans. Inspectors found that improvements from the previous inspection had been made.
“The provider had effective systems to monitor standards and plan improvements.” from the report
Restrictions were not always clear
needs fixingSome people had items locked away, but the reasons were not always clear. Inspectors also found no evidence that less restrictive options had been considered, although the manager said action would be taken.
“Some people had restrictions placed upon them. This included having some items locked away. The reasons for the restrictions were not always clear” from the report
Family involvement
needs fixingSome relatives said they did not always feel listened to and were not invited to reviews about their loved one's care. This is worth discussing before choosing the home.
“However, other family members told us they did not always feel listened to and were not invited to reviews about their loved one's care.” from the report
- 01How do you explain and regularly review any restrictions placed on my relative, including items kept locked away?
- 02How do you consider less restrictive ways of supporting people?
- 03How will I be involved in reviews of my relative's care and how will you respond if I feel I have not been listened to?
- 04Has the planned senior carer cover for night shifts been put in place?
- 05How do you review medicines with health professionals and check that medicines are still needed?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe and Well-led, including infection control; the other ratings were carried over from the previous comprehensive inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 25 April 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 2021
Overall rating Requires Improvement; inspectors found kind, person-centred care but unsafe arrangements for respite admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was a focused inspection on 28 January 2021. One inspector spoke with people, relatives, staff and professionals, and checked care plans, medicines records, recruitment records and quality checks.
People were generally relaxed and felt safe. Staff knew people well and supported their independence, medicines and daily choices. Relatives and professionals gave positive feedback about the care and leadership.
The main problem was that people coming for respite stays were not tested before admission and were not expected to self-isolate for 14 days. This increased the risk of COVID-19 spreading, although inspectors found no evidence that anyone had been harmed.
The overall rating changed from Good at the previous inspection in March 2018 to Requires Improvement. Safe and Well-led were both rated Requires Improvement. The other three areas were not inspected and their previous ratings were carried forward.
Personalised support
Care plans focused on people's abilities, goals and independence. Staff supported people to make choices and take part in daily activities.
“People's care records focused on people's strengths, abilities and individual goals.” from the report
Medicines
Inspectors found that medicines were given safely and on time. Staff had training and checks of their medicines skills.
“People received their prescribed medicines safely and on time.” from the report
Trusted staff team
People were supported by staff they knew. Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs, with arrangements to cover sickness and isolation.
“People were supported by a small team of staff they knew and trusted.” from the report
Quality checks
The home used audits and regular checks to monitor care, medicines, health and safety. Inspectors found that improvements were made in response to some findings.
“The service had a range of other effective quality monitoring arrangements in place.” from the report
Respite infection risk
seriousPeople admitted for respite were tested on the day they arrived rather than before admission, and they did not self-isolate for 14 days. This meant their COVID-19 status was not known at admission and increased the risk of cross-infection.
“People admitted from the community for respite stays were not COVID 19 tested prior to admission.” from the report
Guidance was not followed
seriousSenior staff knew that the home's admission arrangements did not follow government or provider guidance. CQC said the arrangements did not sufficiently protect people living at the home or staff.
“The operations manager and governance lead were aware staff were not following the guidance.” from the report
- 01Have respite admissions restarted, and what testing and self-isolation arrangements are now used before and after admission?
- 02What action has been taken in response to the Regulation 12 breach, and can we see the improvement plan?
- 03How do managers now check that staff follow the home's infection prevention and control guidance?
- 04How will the home keep families updated about changes to visiting, respite admissions and infection control arrangements?
- 05What staffing cover is available if staff are absent or need to self-isolate?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings were carried forward from the previous comprehensive inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 April 2021 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
4 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2023Goodcurrent ratingup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2021Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 July 2014.
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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76 live-in carers within about two hours of Somerset
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 £1,370 a week. 62 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“She looked after my mum, who can be incredibly challenging, so well and so gently, and we always felt confident that my mum was getting the best care available.”
“She was not phased by anything, she was adaptable, kind & gave us complete confidence to go away & not worry about a thing!”
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.