About the service: Woodfield Care Home is a residential care home that was providing personal and nursing care to 29 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection.

People’s experience of using this service:

People told us they liked living at Woodfield Care Home and were happy with the care provided. Staff were compassionate, kind and caring and treated people with respect. People were given choices and were able to make decisions about their daily lives.

People received personalised care and this was reflected in their care records. Staff were particularly good at caring for people who were approaching the end of their lives and supporting their families and friends.

There were enough staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. Staff understood how to manage any risks to people and knew the processes to follow to manage any allegations of abuse.

Individual and group activities were available and people enjoyed spending time outside. People liked the meals and were provided with a varied choice of food and drinks. People’s health care needs were well managed and they received their medicines when they needed them.

Recruitment processes ensured staff were suitable to work in the care service. Staff were well trained and supported by the management team.

The home was clean and well maintained. There was an ongoing refurbishment plan which was discussed with people and their relatives who had a say in any changes.

A complaints procedure was displayed. People and relatives knew how to raise concerns and were confident these would be dealt with appropriately.

People, relatives and staff praised the management of the home. The registered manager was committed to making the service the best it could be for the people who lived there. Effective audits and checks helped them in this process.

Rating at last inspection: At the last inspection the service was rated Good (report published 2 August 2016)

Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection to check this service remained Good.

For more details, please see the full report, which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Woodfield Care Home is a registered nursing home providing accommodation, personal and nursing care for up to 36 people. Accommodation at the home is provided over three floors, which can be accessed using passenger lifts. There is a secure garden at the rear of the building. The home is location in a quiet residential area of Halifax.

We inspected the service on 26 July 2016. On the date of the inspection 35 people were living in the home. At the last inspection in September 2013 the home was found to be compliant with all of the legal requirements inspected at that time.

A registered manager was in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People and relatives provided very good feedback about the service. They said that the care and treatment provided was appropriate and met people’s individual needs. They said people were safe in the home and they were encouraged to raise any concerns by the registered manager. They told us that both staff and the management team treated people well with dignity and respect and delivered care in a friendly and caring manner.

Safeguarding procedures were in place and we saw evidence they had been followed to keep people safe. Risks to people’s health and safety were assessed and risk assessments put in place for staff to follow. These were subject to regular review.

Recent increases had been made to staffing levels and we found they were sufficient to ensure people received timely care and support. New staff were subject to appropriate recruitment checks to ensure they were of suitable character to work with vulnerable people.

The premises was safely managed. Regular maintenance was carried out to ensure it was kept in good condition. It was adapted to the needs of people with appropriate signage and people were encouraged to personalise their bedrooms.

Medicines were managed in a safe manner. People received their medicines as prescribed and at the times they needed them.

People and relatives praised the food provided by the home. We saw people received sufficient choice and variety of food and the mealtime experience was positive with people supported in a caring and attentive manner.

People were cared for staff who had the right skills and knowledge and who received appropriate training and support.

People, relatives and health professionals told us healthcare needs were met by the service.

The service was acting within the legal framework of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Where people lacked capacity, decisions were made in their best interest and care was provided in the least restrictive way possible.

People were treated with dignity and respect by staff who understood people and their individual needs. People were listened to and their opinions respected.

People’s needs were assessed prior to admission and appropriate plans of care put in place. These were subject to regular review to respond to changes in people’s needs.

A system was in place to log, investigate and respond to complaints. The service took action to learn from complaints and incidents.

A range of appropriate activities was provided to people by activities staff.

People and relatives spoke positively about the way the service was run. The staff team worked well together and there was a pleasant atmosphere within the home.

The management team undertook a range of checks and audits to assess, monitor and improve the service. We saw these were effective in driving continuous improvement.

People’s views were regularly sought and used to make improvements to the home.

On the day of our visit there were 20 people living at Woodfield Care Home, 10 of whom required nursing care. During our visit we observed people interacting with staff in the lounge area and dining room. We spoke with the home manager, operations manager, six people who lived in the home, one relative, five care staff, a nurse, the activities organiser and a visiting district nurse.

We also looked at three sets of care records and saw people’s individual needs were assessed and their care and support was developed from this information.

On the day of our visit the home manager informed us that she was currently completing her application to register with the Care Quality Commission.

When we spoke with people living at the home they told us:

“It’s nice to have someone to talk to, there’s not a lot to do here.”

“It’s all kept clean and tidy, when I’m having my breakfast they come and clean my room.”

“There’s not a lot of entertainment, staff do come and have a chat.”

“Staff come when I buzz, but it can take a long time for them to come to me.”

“I would tell the manager or one of the nurses if I was unhappy; they do listen to you.”

“I wanted more baths and showers, I get one a week.”

“It’s a friendly atmosphere; staff always have a smile on their faces.”

Staff told us they felt there were enough staff to meet the needs of the people living at the home. The manager told us they had recently recruited nurses and care staff; staff numbers had been increased due to the increased occupancy at the home.

On the day of our visit the home was clean, tidy and had no malodour. A number of vacant bedrooms had been re-decorated and a lounge had been converted to a visitor’s room to provide privacy for visiting family, friends or healthcare professionals.

We looked at the complaints folder and from what we saw and heard during our visit we were assured that complaints would be properly investigated and that appropriate action would be taken to resolve any problems.

On the day of our visit there were 19 people living at Woodfield Care Home. During our visit we observed people interacting with staff in the lounge area and dining room. We spoke with the registered manager, project manager, five people who lived in the home and five members of staff. We saw people’s individual needs were assessed and their care and support was developed from this information.

These are some of the things the people who lived in the home told us:

“Staff are excellent; they are all very kind and friendly. You can have a bit of fun with them.”

“I am very particular and the home is kept clean and tidy.”

“I am highly satisfied.”

“If I had any problems I would go to the manager, who is lovely and listens to what you have to say.”

“The food is nicely cooked and nicely served.”

Comments from the staff included:-

“I love working here we have a really good staff team.”

“The new manager has only been here a week and I am very impressed.”

“We had a staff meeting yesterday and we are really pleased to have a permanent manager.”

The staff we spoke with said they felt care at the home was good and they felt well-supported by their new manager.