Westdale Residential Care Home

Updated 3 November 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014. This was a comprehensive inspection.

This inspection took place on 10 August 2018 and was unannounced and was carried out by one inspector.

Before the inspection we looked at information the registered persons sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also examined other information we held about the service. This included notifications of incidents that the registered persons had sent us since our last inspection. These are events that happened in the service that the registered persons are required to tell us about.

The registered manager was not available at the time of the inspection visit and the deputy manager provided all the information we needed. During the inspection we spoke with four people who lived at the service, two members of care staff and the deputy manager. All the people using the service are able to make their views know.

We looked at records in relation to the managing of the service these included records of care planning, managing risk, administration of medicines and the recruitment of staff.

Updated 3 November 2018

Westdale Residential Care Home is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The service provides accommodation for people living with a learning disability. The home can accommodate up to 18 people. At the time of our inspection there were 16 people living in the home. The service offers care for people with social care needs and most of the people needed no or minimal assistance with personal care. The service does not offer a service to people who have high needs.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the service is run. In this report when we speak about both the company we refer to them as being, ‘the registered persons’.

At the last inspection the service was rated, ‘Good’. At the present inspection the service remained ‘Good’. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the overall rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

People were offered the facility to manage their own medicines. For those who didn’t their medicines were managed safely.

Suitable quality checks were being completed and the provider had ensured that there was enough staff on duty. In addition, people told us that they received person-centred care.

There were systems, processes and practices to safeguard people from situations in which they may experience abuse. Risks to people’s safety had been assessed, monitored and managed so they were supported to stay safe while their freedom was promoted. Background checks had been completed before new staff had been appointed.

The service was clean and fresh and there were arrangements in place to prevent and control infections.

Staff had been supported to deliver care in line with current best practice guidance. People were able to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced diet. People had access to healthcare services so that they received on-going healthcare support.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and to maintain their independence. Staff supported them in the least restrictive ways possible. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Staff were exceptionally kind and caring. People’s dignity and independence were promoted at all times and great care was taken to ensure people were living in a kind and caring, family atmosphere. People’s consent on how the service was managed was central to how the service was run and what was provided for people. This created a sense of ownership of the service and people were clear they were part of the running of the service. They had an active representative on the committee than ran the service. This ensured the managers of the service they knew how people wanted to be care for. Staff were caring and compassionate and ensured people’s families were a part of daily life in the service.

Information was provided to people in an accessible manner. People had been supported to access activities and community facilities. The registered manager recognised the importance of promoting equality and diversity. People’s concerns and complaints were listened and responded to in order to improve the quality of care.

There was a positive culture in the service that was focused upon achieving good outcomes for people. Further information is in the detailed findings below.