Archived: Wansbeck House

Updated 29 June 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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 comprehensive inspection took place on 14 June 2017 and was unannounced.

The inspection was carried out by one inspector. Before the inspection the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service. It asks what the service does well and what improvements it intends to make. We reviewed the PIR and previous inspection reports before the inspection. We looked at notifications sent to us by the provider (a notification is information about important events which the service is required to tell us about by law). This helped us to identify and address potential areas of concern.

Before the inspection we tried to gain feedback from two social workers. During our inspection we observed how staff interacted with people who used the service and supported them in the communal areas of the home. We spoke with two people, one of the registered managers and two members of staff. Following the inspection visit we spoke with one relative to ask them their views of the service provided.

We looked at plans of care, risk assessments and incident records for two people. We looked at the medicines for everyone living in the home. We looked at training, supervision and appraisal records for all staff and the recruitment records for two members of staff. We also looked at a range of records relating to the management of the service such as complaints, quality audits and policies and procedures.

The last inspection of Wansbeck House was carried out in November 2015 and we identified no concerns.

Updated 29 June 2017

Wansbeck House is a residential care home for 12 people living with a mental health diagnosis. Accommodation for people was provided over three floors with two communal areas.

On the day of our visit 11 people lived at the home. At the last inspection in November 2014, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

People felt safe living at Wansbeck House and were supported by staff who understood how to safeguard them. Staff knew them well and understood any potential risks people may face. The management of medicines was safe and the provider operated recruitment practices that ensured people would be supported by enough staff who were appropriate to work in the home.

The registered manager and provider ensured staff were trained and supported to meet the needs of people living at Wansbeck House and to further develop staff skills. People were provided with a healthy and varied menu to meet their nutritional needs and preferences. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Staff were kind and attentive. People told us staff treated them in a respectful and dignified manner. The registered manager was aware of local advocacy groups and told us how they would get them involved if people needed this support. Staff had worked at the service for a number of years and had built good relationships with people. Any support was discussed with people first and regularly reviewed with them. Care plans were personalised and kept up to date. Staff knew people’s abilities and preferences, and were knowledgeable about how to communicate with people. Support to access health professionals was given where this was needed.

The registered manager was a member of a forum supporting managers to share experiences, good practice and learn from each other. The registered manager worked alongside staff and with people. They operated an open door policy and were described as being supportive and fair. Staff spoke positively of the provider who they felt genuinely cared for them and for the people who lived at the home. Quality assurance systems were in place to monitor the service and encourage continual learning.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.