CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Woodways
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
What inspectors found, November 2021
Rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found good care overall, but the home's checks and records were not reliable enough.
This was the home's first inspection. It was unannounced and took place over two days. Inspectors spoke with people living there, relatives, staff and managers. They also looked at the building, care records, staff files and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring and Responsive. Inspectors found people were safe, treated with kindness and respect, supported to make choices, and helped to maintain relationships, activities and community access.
The overall rating was Requires Improvement because Well-led was rated Requires Improvement. Care records were difficult to find and audits were not in place. The home breached Regulation 17 because it did not have effective systems to monitor and improve quality and safety.
Enough staff
Inspectors found staffing levels were sufficient to meet people's needs. Recruitment checks were also in place.
“There were enough staff employed to help keep people safe.” from the report
Kind relationships
People described staff as caring. Inspectors saw calm, patient and friendly interactions.
“We saw positive interactions between people and staff.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were supported to make decisions, manage parts of their daily lives and use their own apartments independently.
“Staff encouraged people to be as independent as possible.” from the report
Activities and community access
People were supported to see friends and family, join activities and access local facilities and transport.
“People were supported and encouraged to develop meaningful relationships with friends and family.” from the report
Weak quality checks
seriousThe home did not yet have effective audits or systems to identify and improve problems. This led to a breach of Regulation 17.
“We found no evidence that people had been harmed, however systems were not in place to assess, monitor and improve the quality and safety of the services provided this was a breach of regulation 17 (Good Governance) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.” from the report
Care records were difficult to use
needs fixingSome records were incomplete and information was held in several places. This could make it difficult for new staff to find information promptly.
“Files were difficult to navigate with some information held in the person's apartment, some in the offices and some electronically.” from the report
Infection control checks
needs fixingNot all staff were wearing masks correctly. Regular infection prevention and control audits had not yet been introduced.
“Not all staff were seen to be wearing masks appropriately.” from the report
Staff supervision
needs fixingNot all staff had supervision at the frequency set out in the home's own policy. Managers had planned dates to address this.
“However, not all staff files contained records of supervision taking place in line with the provider's own policy of 'no less than a six-weekly basis'.” from the report
- 01What has been done to organise each person's care records so staff can find important information quickly?
- 02Have regular audits of care records, medicines and infection prevention and control now started?
- 03How are you checking that staff supervision happens at least every six weeks?
- 04How do you check that all staff wear personal protective equipment correctly?
- 05What progress has been made on the action plan required after the Regulation 17 breach?
This was the home's first comprehensive inspection and covered all five CQC questions, including infection prevention and control and concerns about restraint, medicines and staffing. This explanation was written from the published report of 20 November 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 Woodways
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- November 2021Requires improvementcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2021
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 April 2021.
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 99 live-in carers within about an hour of Barnsley
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. 82 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Carla has been a god send with the implementation of bringing mum back home from respite care.”
“Ivy was very kind and gentle in all her dealings with my late mother. They got on very well and were able to share a joke and a laugh.”
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.