We carried out a review of the data available to us about Westoe Grange Care Home on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Westoe Grange Care Home, you can give feedback on this service.
We found the following examples of good practice:
The home had sufficient supplies of appropriate PPE which was stored hygienically and kept safe. Staff were provided with separate areas to put on, take off and dispose of PPE safely.
Staff were careful to maintain social distancing and wore appropriate PPE in line with current government guidance.
Staff demonstrated a good knowledge of how to support people that had tested positive or were showing symptoms of COVID-19.
The senior staff explained the quality systems they had in place to check the service was providing safe care.
All staff, including catering and housekeeping staff had undertaken training in infection prevention and control. This included putting on and taking off PPE, hand hygiene and other Covid-19 related training.
Westoe Grange is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. Westoe Grange provides personal care for up to 40 older people some of whom were living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 30 people living at the home.
There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with CQC 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
This is the first inspection of the service since the provider changed its legal entity on 8 December 2017.
People and their relatives told us that they were safe living at the home. Safeguarding and whistleblowing procedures were in place and staff we spoke with were confident in their knowledge to be able to identify and report any suspected abuse.
Risks to people were assessed as part of their admission to the service and regular reviews of risk assessments were also carried out. The provider had various environmental risk assessments in place which were reviewed on a regular basis. Regular maintenance and health and safety checks were carried to ensure that the premises remained safe. The provider had a business continuity plan in place in the event of any emergency that may arise. The home was clean and tidy and staff carried out regular cleaning of the home. Infection control policies were in place and staff were able to confidently tell us how they would follow this policy. Medicines were managed safely, including the receipt, storage, handling, administration and disposal.
Staffing levels in the home were appropriate to meet the needs of people living in the home.
The provider had a robust recruitment process in place and this included pre-employment checks. This meant that only suitable people were employed to work within the home.
People’s care records held lots of detailed information including people’s religious beliefs. This meant that staff knew how to care for people in the way they wished to be cared for. 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 received regular training which provided them with the skills they required to care for people safely. People and relatives we spoke with told us that staff treated people with great kindness and dignity at all times.
People enjoyed a healthy and varied diet and were able to have a choice of meals from the daily menu. People’s personal dietary requirements were catered for along with any requests for items outside of the menu. People had regular access to healthcare appointments including visits from their GP, dieticians and podiatrists.
People’s care plans were reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that people were receiving care that was appropriate to their needs. Activities were available for people to engage in both inside and outside of the home.
The provider had a complaints policy in place and this was available for people to access. Any complaints received were logged and actioned in line with this policy.
Staff we spoke with told us they felt supported by the registered manager. Healthcare professionals we spoke with were complimentary about the management of the home and felt that the home was well led.
The registered manager carried out monthly audits of various documents including, medicine records, care plans and health and safety records. Where any issues had been identified, appropriate action had been taken.
Regular feedback was sought from people including relatives and healthcare professionals. This was done via a yearly questionnaire and a review of the last survey results showed positive feedback.
The home had good working relationships with other healthcare organisations. This included regular engagement with various local authority teams, local GPs and local clinical commissioning groups.