Woodchurch House

This inspection report provides an overview of Woodchurch House, a care home offering personal and nursing care. The inspection focused on key areas to ensure the well-being and safety of residents. It highlights how the home performs in terms of safety, effectiveness of care, the caring nature of the staff, responsiveness to resident needs, and the quality of leadership. The findings are based on observations, discussions with residents and their relatives, and a review of care records.

On safety, residents and their families feel secure, with staff well-trained in safeguarding and aware of individual risks. The home is kept clean, and infection control measures are robust. Risk assessments are comprehensive and regularly reviewed, ensuring appropriate care is provided. While generally safe, the inspection noted an ongoing investigation into a specific incident involving a resident's injury, which prompted a review of fall management.

Regarding effective care, residents are actively involved in decisions about their well-being and receive support that respects their dignity and encourages independence. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of residents' individual needs, preferences, and communication styles, ensuring care plans are person-centred.

The caring aspect of the service is consistently praised by residents and their families. Staff are described as kind, compassionate, and friendly, fostering positive relationships and treating residents with respect. There's a strong emphasis on knowing residents personally, their likes and dislikes, which contributes to a warm and supportive environment.

In terms of responsiveness, the home ensures residents' care plans are updated and tailored to their evolving needs, with clear communication channels for families. Staff actively support residents in maintaining their independence and making choices about their daily lives, ensuring their privacy and dignity are always protected.

Leadership at Woodchurch House is reported as strong and supportive. The new manager fosters an open-door policy, encouraging feedback from staff, residents, and families, and is visible within the service. Systems are in place for quality monitoring and audits, and the service demonstrates an understanding of its legal responsibilities regarding transparency and honesty when incidents occur.