29 July 2015
During a routine inspection
This inspection took place on 29 July 2015 and was unannounced.
Westlands is a care home, registered to provide accommodation for up to 21 people needing personal care. People living at the home are older people.
The home has a registered manager. 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.
People told us they felt safe at Westlands. Staff had received and understood training in safeguarding adults and there was clear information available on what to do in case of a concern. Staff understood about people’s rights to make decisions, and there was a policy and procedure in place for dealing with any concerns or complaints. People we spoke with told us they felt able to raise any concerns with the registered manager or staff and be confident they would be dealt with fairly.
People said there were enough staff on duty to meet their needs. On the day of the inspection there were four experienced care staff, the registered manager, a graduate management trainee, a cook, handyman and cleaner to provide support for 21 people. Staff were able to carry out their duties without being hurried and had time to spend chatting with people about their day.
Care plans showed each person had been assessed before they moved into the home and any potential risks such as from trips or falls were identified and addressed where possible. People received the healthcare they needed, including support from community healthcare professionals and the monitoring of long term health conditions such as diabetes. Care plans were personalised and showed how people’s interests and information about previous lifestyle choices had been used to support and develop activities for them at the home.
The home had an extensive programme of activities available for people to which friends, family and people living in the community were also encouraged to attend if they wished. Individual activities were also supported for people, and they were asked each month what they would like to do. This was then used to support an individual programme.
People told us they ate well and enjoyed the food available. Where people needed foods to be presented in a softened or mashed diet due to swallowing difficulties this was done carefully and presented well.
People were protected from the risks associated with medicines as there were safe systems in practice to ensure people received the correct medicine at the correct time. Where there was flexibility in medicine regimes people’s choices and independence were respected.
People’s rights were protected because staff had a clear understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). This is legislation that helps ensure that people who do not have the mental capacity to make decisions for themselves have their legal rights protected. People’s capacity was assessed and people were asked for their consent before care was delivered.
The manager was praised by people living at the home and staff for their enthusiasm and approachability. There were clear staffing structures at the home and a staff group who had been largely consistent for several years which helped ensure consistency of care. Staff told us it was a happy place to work and that they were proud the home had high standards.
People were supported to share their experience of the service and any improvements that could be made. The registered manager completed audits of the service to ensure quality was maintained. People were asked to comment on the service through six monthly questionnaires and in daily contact with the registered manager.