Achieving three stars (outstanding) from our Regulator CQC - The Willows Care Home

Recipient: The Willows Care Home

Date: Tuesday 25 Dec 2018

As some of you may know, The Willows Care Home was inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) on 4th December 2018. CQC is the independent regulator of all health and social care in England. They are here to register, monitor and inspect all health and social care services, including care homes.

Their report was published on 27 December 2018, copy of which is attached to this email. CQC last inspected the home on 22 March 2016 where our overall rating was Outstanding.

The inspection team consisted of one senior adult social care lead inspector and an expert-by-experience. The expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. The expert by experience has a background supporting older people. The inspection team spent the whole day at the home, arriving shortly after 09.30am, and leaving just before 4pm. The visit was a comprehensive inspection, meaning it was unannounced.

Im pleased to announce that following the visit, the Head of Inspection has agreed and signed off the report. This means we have retained our outstanding rating overall and are now outstanding in care, responsive and well led. Im particularly pleased with this result, as we managed to achieve a third star in responsive, despite the on going building works in 2016/17. The report is by far the best I have ever read...

I would like to take this opportunity in thanking the whole team for their efforts in helping to achieve such a positive inspection. Without them it would not be possible.

I hope you all agree.