'Outstanding' Telford care home given high praise after first CQC inspection

A recently opened Telford care home has been rated ‘outstanding’ following its first visit by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Woodside Place, which opened in May last year, is a nursing home offering care and support for up to 33 adults living with complex needs.

It is run by Woodside Place Health Care Limited and part of Exemplar Health Care.

The CQC has rated how caring, responsive and well-led the home is as ‘outstanding’, and how safe and effective it is as ‘good’. The results means the overall rating is ‘outstanding’.

Amanda Lyndon, the CQC's deputy director of adult social care in the West Midlands, said: “Woodside Place was giving people real choice and control over their own lives, not just their care.

“Staff knew people exceptionally well and used that knowledge to help them achieve things that mattered to them, whether that was learning to cook, travelling independently on public transport or planning a holiday abroad.

“People and their relatives told us staff were kind, approachable and genuinely invested in their wellbeing, and we saw this for ourselves throughout our visit.

“Staff spoke with real pride about the difference they made to people’s lives, and leaders had built a culture where people, families and staff all felt listened to and valued.

“The home’s ambition for the people it supported struck us most. Leaders and staff worked creatively with families and health professionals to find ways to make things happen safely, rather than limiting what people could do because of potential risks.

“For example, staff recently helped one person take their first independent trip into the community, after they had lost the confidence to go out alone. Another person was preparing for a Disneyland holiday that staff had helped them plan.

“This is a home that shows what’s possible when a service puts people at the centre of everything it does. The registered manager and their team should be proud of what they’ve achieved, and I’d encourage other services to look at this report for examples of outstanding, person-centred care.”

Inspectors found that staff helped people build confidence and independence, and supported some to move towards living more independently, which boosted their self-esteem and quality of life.

The report also stated that the home adapted activities and support so that people with complex needs or communication difficulties could fully take part in community life, rather than missing out because of risk.

Inspectors also praised leaders for creating a culture where staff felt able to speak up about concerns trusted leaders would listen, helping resolve problems quickly.

During the visit, residents told the inspectors that staff were “kind, caring and approachable” and “spoke proudly” about achievements they had made since moving to the home.

The full report is available to view online on the CQC website.