Archived: Westport House Care Home

Westport House Care Home is a residential care home providing personal care to 10 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 11 people.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

The management team had Improved their auditing systems to maintain ongoing oversight of the service and make improvements where necessary. Quality assurance processes ensured people were able to give their views of the service. In addition, we found the provider acted upon suggestions to improve the administration and management of prescribed creams and medicines. Staff were able to describe good practice in safeguarding principles to protect people from harm, injury or unsafe care. Staff followed current guidance to maintain good infection control measures. Safe systems of recruitment were in place and people told us they felt safe. People's needs were assessed before they moved into Westport House.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was Requires Improvement (published 12 March 2020).

The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

At our last inspection we recommended the provider review documentation related to administration of medicines. Also consider current guidance on the administration and management of prescribed creams and medicines and act to update their practice accordingly. At this inspection we found improvements had been made.

Why we inspected

This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection. For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

Follow Up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.

Westport House Care Home is a residential care home providing personal care to 10 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 11 people.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Medicines were administered safely; however good practice guidelines were not always followed. We have made a recommendation about the management of some medicines. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies in the service supported this practice. However, not all restrictions were documented on Dols applications. We have made a recommendation the service work within the principles of the MCA.

Care plans and risk management documents did not always hold comprehensive information. We have made recommendations about this. Language used and written did not always promote people’s dignity, bed rails were referred to as cot sides. We have made a recommendation about this.

Safe systems of recruitment were in place and people told us they felt safe. People’s needs were assessed before they moved into Westport House. Staff received induction, training and support they needed to carry out their roles effectively. People's nutritional and health needs were met.

People were relaxed and comfortable in the company of staff. Staff and managers knew people well. One relative said, "Staff know [family member] well. She is always smiling, and that is reassuring for me." People were treated with respect and dignity; staff supported people to maintain their independence.

People were provided with personalised care that took account of their needs, wishes and preferences. There was a caring rapport and familiarity. There was an appropriate system to manage complaints. People’s wishes for end of life care and support were identified, respected and recorded.

Everyone was positive about the registered manager and the way the home was managed and organised. The home worked in partnership with a variety of agencies to ensure people received all the support they needed. Staff felt well supported by the registered manager and management team.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good published 06 September 2017.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Enforcement

We have identified breaches in relation to Good governance at this inspection. We found audits did not always identify the improvements that were required.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan for the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.

At the last inspection the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

This was an unannounced inspection visit carried out on the 08 August 2017.

People who lived at the home and visitors told us the registered manager and all the staff were kind, patient and respectful. For example a person who lived at the home said, “They are so nice and kind and do feel cared for.”

The registered manager had procedures in place to minimise the potential risk of abuse or unsafe care. Records looked at and staff spoken with confirmed they had received safeguarding vulnerable adults training. The registered manager had systems in place to record safeguarding concerns, accidents and incidents and take necessary action as required.

Risk assessments had been developed to minimise the potential risk of harm to people during the delivery of their care. These had been kept under review and were relevant to the care provided. In addition staff had been recruited safely, appropriately trained and supported. They had skills, knowledge and experience required to support people with their care and social needs.

The registered manager had sufficient staffing levels in place to provide support people required. Staff informed us they had time to sit and talk with people in their care and organise activities to keep them entertained and occupied. Our observations during the day of the inspection visit confirmed this.

Medication procedures at Westport were safe. Staff responsible for the administration of medicines had received training to ensure they had the competency and skills required. Medicines were safely kept with appropriate arrangements for storing in place.

People who lived at the home were complimentary about the meals provided and choices available. One person who lived at the home said, “If I don’t like something I can always have an alternative. The food is very good.” Regular snacks and drinks were provided during the time of the inspection visit to make sure people received adequate nutrition and hydration throughout the day.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.

People had access to healthcare professionals and their healthcare needs were met. We saw the staff and registered manager had responded promptly when people had experienced health problems.

People who lived at the home had access to advocacy services. This ensured their interests were represented by professionals outside of the service to act on their behalf if needed

The registered manager had a complaints procedure which was made available to people on their admission to the home and their relatives. No complaints had been received.

The registered manager used a variety of methods to assess and monitor the quality of the service. These included regular audits, staff and ‘resident’ meetings to seek their views about the service provided and their opinions to improve the home.

Although some residents had limited verbal communication due to a dementia condition, we did receive positive comments about the service. One of the residents we were able to talk with said, 'The staff are very good to everyone'. Also, 'The food is good.'

During our inspection we looked at care records and undertook a tour of the building. One relative we spoke with about the cleanliness of the home said. 'The building is always clean and well looked after.'

We observed meal times and spoke with relatives and residents. We did this to confirm people were supported and cared for. One relative we spoke with said, 'This is a lovely home run by caring people.' We observed care practices and saw people were treated with respect and dignity. The people we spoke with said they were receiving safe and appropriate care which was meeting their needs.

Previous to our visit we contacted the Lancashire contracts monitoring team. They told us they currently had no concerns with the service being provided by the home.