CQC report explained · a residential care home, run by Angel Plus Homes

Willowbank Rest Home

42 Lancaster Lane, Clayton-le-Woods, Leyland, PR25 5SP

Goodpublished 17 January 2024, 2 years ago

Rated Good: inspectors found the service performing well and meeting their expectations.

The five questions inspectors ask

Safe?: Good; Inspectors found that risks were identified and reviewed, staffing levels were sufficient and medicines were managed safely. They noted that some employment histories were incomplete and that parts of the home needed updating.
Effective?: Good; This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its rating was carried forward from the previous inspection.
Caring?: Good; This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its rating was carried forward from the previous inspection.
Responsive?: Good; This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its rating was carried forward from the previous inspection.
Well-led?: Good; Inspectors found a clear management structure, effective quality checks and a positive culture. People, relatives and staff were able to give feedback.

The latest report, explained

What inspectors found, January 2024

Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind care, but some recruitment records and parts of the home needed attention.

This was an unannounced inspection on 6 December 2023. One inspector, a regulatory co-ordinator and an Expert by Experience visited. They spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and health professionals. They also observed care and checked records.

The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines practice, suitable checks on risks and safeguarding procedures. They also found a positive culture, effective audits and opportunities for people, families and staff to give feedback.

Some recruitment records did not include a full employment history. Parts of the home would also have benefited from being updated, although the provider addressed the concerns after the inspection. The ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive were not inspected and were carried forward from the previous inspection.

What inspectors praised

Safe staffing
The home had enough staff to meet people's needs. Recruitment checks, including references and DBS checks, were completed before new staff started.
“The provider had ensured appropriate staffing arrangements were in place to meet everyone's needs.” from the report
Medicines
Staff were trained and assessed as competent to give medicines. Inspectors found that medicines, including controlled drugs, were managed safely.
“Medicines were managed safely and properly.” from the report
Positive culture
People, relatives and staff gave very positive feedback about the care, atmosphere and management. Inspectors found staff were respectful and focused on people's individual needs.
“Feedback from people was overwhelmingly positive” from the report
Quality checks
The management team used audits and other checks to monitor the service. People, families and staff could share their views through meetings, questionnaires and feedback.
“The provider had set up effective systems to check the quality of the service.” from the report

What inspectors were concerned about

Areas needing updates
minor
Inspectors found parts of the home that would have benefited from being updated. The provider addressed the concerns after the inspection.
“there were areas of the home that would have benefitted from being updated.” from the report

Questions to ask them, based on this report

01Have all staff recruitment records now been completed with full employment histories?
02What changes were made to the areas of the home that inspectors said needed updating?
03When were the Effective, Caring and Responsive areas last fully reviewed?
04How will you keep me informed if my relative's care needs or risks change?
05How can residents and relatives raise concerns and see what action the home takes?

This inspection checked Safe and Well-led only; the ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive were carried forward from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 January 2024 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.

The story over the years

Every inspection of Willowbank Rest Home

4 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.

January 2024Goodcurrent ratingstayed Good
Safe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Willowbank Rest Home →
November 2018Goodup from Requires improvement
Safe: GoodWell-led: Good
We are reading this report · the original is on cqc.org.uk
June 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvement
Safe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
Read this report on cqc.org.uk
June 2016Requires improvement
Safe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
Read this report on cqc.org.uk
November 2015
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 6 November 2015.

Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission. A service can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections, not every contact the CQC has had with the service.

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What inspectors found, January 2024

Safe staffing

Medicines

Positive culture

Quality checks

Areas needing updates

Every inspection of Willowbank Rest Home

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