Westwinds is a residential care home accommodating up to ten adults with learning disabilities, physical disabilities and sensory impairments. There were nine people living at the home at the time of inspection. People had significant communication needs. People mainly used body language, gestures or sounds to communicate, some people could use a few key words to communicate their needs.
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.
There were sufficient staff to keep people safe. There were recruitment practises in place to ensure that staff were safe to work with people.
People were protected from avoidable harm. Staff received training in safeguarding adults and were able to demonstrate that they knew the procedures to follow should they have any concerns.
People’s medicines were administered, stored and disposed of safely. Staff were trained in the safe administration of medicines and kept relevant and accurate records. However where some people had an as required medicine, there were no guidelines in place to tell staff when and how people should have them. We have made a recommendation.
Staff had written information about risks to people and how to manage these. Risk assessments were in place for a variety of tasks such as personal care, use of equipment, health, and the environment and they were updated frequently. The registered manager ensured that actions had been taken after incidents and accidents occurred.
People’s human rights were protected as the registered manager ensured that the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 were followed. Where people were assessed to lack capacity to make some decisions, mental capacity assessment and best interest meetings had been undertaken. Staff were heard to ask peoples consent before they provided care.
Where people’s liberty may be restricted to keep them safe, the provider had followed the requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) to ensure the person’s rights were protected.
People had sufficient to eat and drink. People were offered a choice of what they would like to eat and drink. People’s weights were monitored on a regular basis to ensure that people remained healthy.
People were supported to maintain their health and well-being. People had regular access to health and social care professionals.
Staff were trained and had sufficient skills and knowledge to support people effectively. There was a training programme in place to meet people’s needs. There was an induction programme in place which included staff undertaking the Care Certificate. Staff received regular supervision.
People were well cared for and positive relationships had been established between people and staff. Staff interacted with people in a kind and caring manner.
Relatives and health professionals were involved in planning peoples care. People’s choices and views were respected by staff. Staff and the registered manager knew people’s choices and preferences. People’s privacy and dignity was respected.
People received a personalised service. Care and support was person centred and this was reflected in their care plans. Care plans contained sufficient detail for staff to support people effectively. People were supported to develop their independence.
There were activities in place which people enjoyed. The registered manager told us that they wanted to improve what activities were on offer to people.
The home listened to staff and relative’s views. There was a complaints procedure in place. There had been no complaints since the last inspection.
The management promoted an open and person centred culture. Staff told us they felt supported by the manager. Relatives told us they felt that the management was approachable and responsive.
There were robust procedures in place to monitor, evaluate and improve the quality of care provided. Staff were motivated and aware of their responsibilities. The manager understood the requirements of CQC and sent in appropriate notifications.