Westhope Place

Updated 20 September 2018

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 7 March 2018 and was unannounced. Due to a significant delay in the inspection process, we undertook a second day of inspection which was announced with the provider on the 29 August 2018.

The inspection was carried out by one inspector as the service was small. Before the inspection the registered manager completed a Provider Information Return and we used this as part of the inspection process. We require providers to send us a Provider Information Return at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed the last inspection report and other information including any notifications. Notifications are information we receive when a significant event happens, like a death or a serious injury.

We spoke with the director, six members of staff and to the registered manager. We sampled various records including five care plans, three recruitment files, medicine records, audits, health and safety checks and supervision notes. We spoke to five people who used the service, observed how people were supported and how staff interacted with them.

Updated 20 September 2018

At our last inspection in February we rated the service Good overall with Safe rated requires improvement as the provider had not ensured that recruitment processes were safe. At this inspection we found this issue had been rectified and the evidence continued to support the rating of Good. There was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

Westhope Place is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

This location is registered to provide accommodation and personal care to up to seven people with physical or learning disabilities. At the time of our inspection seven people living in Westhope Place. Not everybody was able to tell their experience but our observations during the inspection told us that people felt comfortable with staff and were content in their home. We saw that interactions both verbal and non-verbal were positive and that people trusted staff to keep them safe.

This comprehensive inspection took place on 7 March 2018 and was unannounced. Due to a significant delay in the inspection process, we undertook a second day of inspection which was announced with the provider on the 29 August 2018.

There was a registered manager in place. '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 received a safe service. The provider ensured that people were supported by sufficient staff who knew how to protect people from the risk of harm or abuse. The provider's procedures for staff recruitment helped to ensure people were only supported by staff who were suitable to work with the people who lived at Westhope Place. People could live their lives with reduced risks to themselves. Staff followed safe procedures for the management and administration of people's medicines. Staff followed the provider's health and safety procedures which helped to ensure people lived in a safe and well-maintained environment. There were procedures to deal with foreseeable emergencies and these were understood and followed by staff. People were protected from the risks associated with the spread of infection because staff had received training and followed appropriate procedures.

People received effective care and support from staff who had the skills, training and knowledge to meet their individual needs. Staff understood the importance of ensuring people's rights were respected. 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 support this practice. People were supported to eat well in accordance with their needs and preferences. People's health and well-being were regularly monitored.

People were supported by staff who were kind, compassionate and who took time to get to know what was important to people. Staff treated people with respect and ensured people could spend time alone whenever they wanted. People were supported to plan their day in accordance with their needs and preferences. Staff communicated with people in accordance with their needs and abilities which helped people make an informed decision. People were supported to maintain contact with the important people in their lives.

People continued to receive a service which was based on their needs and preferences and there was an emphasis on enabling people to be as involved in the planning and review of the support they received. People enjoyed a variety of activities and social events within the service and the local community. Trips out to their favourite places were arranged such as ‘Monkey World and the zoo. The service had not received any complaints however systems were in place to enable people to raise concerns in a format that was suitable for example, pictorial. People were supported to practice their faith and attend religious services if and when they wanted. People's care plans detailed their preferences following death which helped staff to ensure their wishes were respected.

People benefitted from a provider and registered manager who promoted an open and honest culture,

learned from mistakes and continually looked at how the quality of the service could be improved. People were supported by a staff team who embraced the provider's ethos and who felt valued and well supported. People's views were valued and responded to and people were enabled to be part of the wider community.