A national care watchdog has given an all-round “good” rating across five categories to a care home following a surprise inspection.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) conducted its inspection of Woodland Hall care home in Stanmore in February this year, publishing its findings in early April. 

The Care UK home on Clamp Hill scored highly across the safety, effectiveness, caring, well-led service, and responsiveness criteria. On top of essential training, the report also highlighted staff had received specific training on dementia awareness.

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The Woodland staff were commended for their overall kindness and respect for residents, with one care home user 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 Care Quality Commission also highlighted Woodland staff’s willingness to engage with resident’s views and opinions and to hear their life stories so as to establish genuine relationships.

It was also noted that staff tailored activities to suit resident’s tastes and preferences, with one team member saying, “We developed the activity plan in accordance to what people told us.”

A popular baking club was created after one such survey and one resident reported: “I like Baking Club on Wednesday. It’s always funny.” 

The CQC report noted a wide-ranging variety of meals on offer with different portion sizes and dietary requirements met, including vegetarian options, and flexible meal times for less mobile care home users.

Woodland was also commended for overall good “person-centred care” conducting regular assessments of residents needs, personalised rooms, and, for working with local care professionals such as a permanently placed physiotherapist from the Clinical Commissioning Group. 

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.”

For more information on Woodland Hall, visit careuk.com/woodland-hall