Westwood

Updated 6 June 2026

Date of assessment: 24 July to 26 August 2026.

The service is a residential care home providing personal care and support to younger and older adults with a mental health condition. At the time of the assessment the service supported 21 people.

The last assessment of Westwood was published 5 March 2022; but the location was not rated at this assessment. The last full rating assessment was published on 5 October 2019 and the overall rating was Good. At this assessment the overall rating for Westwood is Good. This is based upon the findings at this assessment.

This assessment was carried out due to the length of time since the last rating.

People told us they felt safe living at Westwood and relatives were positive about the care provided. Staff understood their safeguarding responsibilities and risks were assessed and managed effectively. Medicines were managed safely, and the home environment was well maintained and clean. Staffing arrangements were planned and reviewed to reflect people's changing needs, and staff and people generally felt there were enough staff available to provide support safely. Staff felt supported and received induction, supervision, appraisal and training.

People’s needs were assessed and reviewed with them regularly, and care was delivered in line with current best practice guidance which had resulted in significant health improvements for people. Staff worked effectively with healthcare professionals to support people’s health, wellbeing and independence. People received support with nutrition and hydration and were involved in decisions about their care. Staff understood the importance of consent and the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA).

People described staff as kind, caring and respectful. A privacy issue was identified during the assessment but this was promptly addressed by the registered manager. Staff knew people well and supported them in a way which recognised their individual preferences and promoted choice, control and independence. Activities and opportunities for social engagement were available, and people were supported to maintain relationships and participate in their local community. Staff wellbeing was promoted through regular supervision, support and learning opportunities.

Care was person-centred and reflected people’s individual needs, preferences and life histories. There was evidence that people and, where appropriate, their relatives were involved in planning and reviewing care. Care records supported continuity of care and demonstrated that people’s wishes and future preferences were considered.

The service had a positive and open culture. People, staff and professionals spoke very positively about the registered manager and leadership team, describing them as approachable and supportive. Staff felt very comfortable speaking up and sharing ideas, and governance systems were used to identify opportunities for learning, improvement and service development.

Updated 6 June 2026

People living at Westwood were generally positive about their experience of the service and described staff as kind, caring and supportive. People told us they felt safe living at the home and valued the support they received from staff. Comments included, “It’s a safe place. I feel safe here and the staff are lovely and protective and keep me safe and secure” and “I like it here because it's very safe.” People consistently described staff as approachable and compassionate, with one person saying, “All the staff are precious, kind, caring, and very approachable, any problems can be discussed and sorted.” People were supported to maintain their independence and make choices about their daily lives, including how they spent their time, personal care routines and participation in community activities.

People told us they were involved in decisions about their care and support and had opportunities to provide feedback about the service. Records showed people were regularly involved in reviewing their care and support needs, with relatives also involved where appropriate. People felt able to raise concerns and were confident these would be listened to and acted upon. The provider demonstrated a strong commitment to involving people in shaping the service, and people’s suggestions had led to improvements including refurbishment of communal areas, additional bathroom facilities and the creation of a social room for visitors. People were also supported to maintain relationships with family and friends and told us visitors could attend the home without restriction.

People spoke positively about many aspects of life at Westwood, including the quality of food, cleanliness of the home and support they received to maintain their health and wellbeing. People described the food as “excellent”, “fantastic” and said there was always sufficient choice of food and drink available throughout the day. Nearly every person spoken with commented on the cleanliness of the home and the quality of housekeeping and laundry services. People benefited from support to attend healthcare appointments, manage long-term health conditions and achieve positive outcomes which promoted greater independence and wellbeing.

Although feedback was overwhelmingly positive, a small number of people expressed dissatisfaction with aspects of their experience. Some people said they would like more opportunities to go out into the community and views about activities were mixed, with some people choosing not to participate. However, most other people, relatives, staff and professionals described the home positively. Overall, people's feedback indicated they felt safe, supported and respected, and that staff knew them well and provided care that promoted their dignity, independence and quality of life.

During the assessment we identified information displayed on bedroom doors which did not fully protect people's privacy. The registered manager took immediate action to remove this information.