This was an unannounced inspection carried out on 14 September 2017. The service had been taken over by a new registered provider, Trust Care Ltd in September 2016 and this is the first inspection of the service under this registration.

Woodlea is a care home which provides accommodation for up to 34 older people who require personal care. The service is located on Bawtry Road Bessacarr, a suburb of Doncaster. At the time of our inspection there were 29 people living in the home.

The home had a registered manager who had been registered with CQC since 2014. 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 we spoke with told us they felt safe living in the home. Staff we spoke with were knowledgeable on safeguarding people.

People were cared for by sufficient numbers of suitably qualified, skilled and experienced staff. Staff employed at the home had been recruited in a way that helped to keep people safe, because thorough checks were completed prior to them being offered a post.

People’s needs were assessed and care and support was planned and delivered in line with their individual care needs. People received their medicines at the right time and in the right way to meet their needs. Healthcare professionals, such as chiropodists, opticians, GPs and dentists were involved in people's care when necessary.

People were provided with a choice of healthy food and drink ensuring their nutritional needs were met and meal times were an enjoyable experience for people.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.

People were supported by staff who had received an induction into the service and appropriate training, professional development and supervision to enable them to meet people's individual needs.

Staff were able to meet people's needs and to engage with people in a relaxed and unhurried manner. Staff knew how to respect people’s privacy and dignity.

Opportunities were provided for people to engage in activities.

Everyone we spoke with felt the home was well-led and spoke positively about the culture and management of the service. They were also supported to raise complaints should they wish to.

People were particularly complimentary about the new registered provider, who they said visited regularly, took an interest in everyone’s welfare and had invested a lot in making the home a very comfortable and pleasant place for people to live in

The management team regularly reviewed the quality of the service. Reports produced for these audits included any actions required and these were checked by senior managers to monitor the progress of any improvements.