Background to this inspection
Updated
17 February 2022
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.
As part of CQC's response to the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.
This inspection took place on 7 February 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 4 hours’ notice of the inspection.
Updated
17 February 2022
About the service
Westminster House is a residential care home providing short term respite care for people with a learning disability or autism.
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
The service was a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties however, it was in a residential area with easy access to the town centre shops and amenities. It was registered for the support of up to 10 people however, the service usually only supported a maximum of four people at a time. This is reflective of current best practice guidance. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people. This is reflective of current best practice guidance.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People told us they felt safe when they were receiving a respite service at Westminster House. This was also the opinion of relatives we spoke with, who all told us how much people enjoyed attending Westminster House.
People's needs were met in an individual and personalised way by staff who were kind and caring. Independence was promoted, privacy, dignity and people's rights and freedoms were upheld. People were empowered to make their own choices and decisions. 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.
People, or their relatives, were involved in the development of their care plans which were designed to promote people's independence and ensure their needs were known and met by staff. Staff acted in the best interests of the people they supported.
People and their relatives felt listened to and knew how to raise concerns. They, and their relatives told us they would recommend the service to others.
There were enough staff to support people, who had received all necessary training and worked well together. Arrangements were in place to ensure staff received formal and informal supervision from senior staff.
Staff, people and relatives were positive about a new manager who had recently been appointed for the service.
We identified some minor areas for improvement. The manager and senior managers responded promptly and positively taking action where needed.
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.
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 7 December 2016).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
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.