Wensum Way

Updated 27 January 2022

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection team consisted of two inspectors and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Wensum Way is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

This service also provides care and support to people living in two ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and health and social care professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report .

During the inspection

We spoke with four people who used the service and eight relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff including the regional manager, registered manager and care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.

Updated 27 January 2022

Wensum Way is a care home providing support for up to eight people with a learning disability. The service is also registered to provide domiciliary care for people living in two supported living settings in the locality. At the time of our inspection seven people lived at the residential care home, and six people received domiciliary support.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Care plans were currently undergoing a review, causing some of the information recorded to not be of the standard we would expect. However, this had not caused any identifiable impact to the people supported due to the staff knowing the people’s support needs well.

Medicines were stored securely for the safety of the people supported. Medicines were well audited to ensure people received their medicines as directed.

The service we visited was clean and all guidance relating to COVID-19 were being followed to ensure the safety of those supported.

The registered manager sought support from external healthcare professionals as required to support people’s wellbeing.

Staff supported people in a caring, respectful way. Families we spoke with confirmed they felt staff were approachable and supporting of their loved ones.

Regular meetings with people supported were not taking place at the time of the inspection. This had been already identified by the registered manager and was something they wanted to introduce to ensure the support is led by the person and they are fully involved.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture .

People were observed to make choices in their day to day life and choose how they spent their time and what they wanted to achieve that day. Staff promoted and encouraged the people supported to express themselves and talk about their own interests. Staff protected people’s dignity at all times and supported people in a person-centred manner.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (published 27 June 2018).

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection as part of a random selection of services rated Good and Outstanding to test the reliability of our new monitoring approach.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.