Woodland Hall wins approval of national care inspectors

Home news

May 24, 2018

A national care watchdog has given Woodland Hall the seal of approval, with relatives and residents praising its caring and attentive team members.

The Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) report gave Woodland Hall an overall ‘good’ rating, following an unannounced inspection.

The care home was rated ‘good’ in five out of five categories for safety, effectiveness, caring, having a well-led service, and responsiveness. 

The report highlighted the team members’ high standards of care and training. Every member of the team received specific training on dementia awareness, on top of essential training.

The team also received high praise for their kindness and the emphasis put on respecting the residents’ privacy and dignity, with one resident saying: “The care team treat me very well with respect and dignity”. Another resident added: “They sit down with me and spend time to chat with me.” 

The report also highlighted that team members actively sought the residents’ views and opinions, and ensured they knew their specific needs and life stories, resulting in genuine, warm and caring relationships between the team members and the residents. 

The wide variety of activities taking place at the home was praised. From music memory sessions to a table top games, there was plenty of activities taking place at the home for residents to enjoy, tailored to their preferences. One team member said: “We developed the activity plan in accordance to what people told us.” For example, the popular baking club was created following resident feedback, and one resident added: “I like baking club on Wednesday. It’s always funny.”  

The report also highlighted the importance of person-centred care at Woodland Hall. The home carries regular assessments of the residents’ needs, including nutrition, falls, and skin care. Every room is personalised to suit the residents’ preferences, and residents are encouraged to bring personal items with them. One resident said: “I have my own belongings, and photos on the wall”.

It was also noted that Woodland Hall had built strong links with local care professionals, which benefited the residents in many ways. For example, a physiotherapist from the Clinical Commissioning Group was permanently placed at Woodland Hall, ensuring that every resident received the best possible care and regained their independence. 

Olga Richardson, home manager at Woodland Hall, said “Creating a welcoming home from home feel, and making sure every resident receives the best possible care is our absolute priority. Everyone here at Woodland Hall works incredibly hard to provide residents with compassionate, person-centred care and I’m delighted that our efforts have been recognised by the CQC’s inspectors.

“I’m extremely proud of our team and I would like to say thank you for their hard work and dedication, which I know is also greatly appreciated by residents and their families.”