Wistaston House

Updated 17 November 2023

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors.

Service and service type

Wistaston House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Wistaston House is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was no registered manager in post. However, a new manager had been in post for 3 months and had submitted their application to register with CQC. We are currently assessing their application.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 1 hour notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or manager would be at the service to support the inspection.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 6 people who used the service and 5 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We observed interactions between staff and people living at Wistaston House. We spoke with 10 members of staff in various roles. We reviewed 6 people's care records and other records relating to people's care and support. We looked at 5 staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service was reviewed, including policies and procedures.

Updated 17 November 2023

About the service

Wistaston House is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 7 people. At the time of the inspection 6 people lived at the home. The service offered a home like environment, each bedroom had its own en-suite shower room. There were a number of communal areas including a bathroom, lounge, kitchen, dining room, conservatory and a large garden area.

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

Right Support:

Improvements were needed to ensure medicines were managed safely. The providers policy needed updating to ensure that staff are clear regarding their responsibilities in this area.

Support plans were in place which provided guidance for staff on how a person wished to receive their care. However, improvements were required to ensure that information relating to risk was up to date and reflective of people’s care needs.

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 and systems in the service supported this practice.

Safe recruitment processes were followed. Staff received on-going training and development to support them in their roles.

People told us they felt safe living at Wistaston House. People were encouraged to have choice; support was personalised to their wishes.

Right Care:

People were positive about the care and support they received. People were treated with dignity and respect by staff who were knowledgeable about their support needs.

People were supported to be as independent as possible in the home and, where possible, out in the community. Where new staff had been recently employed, staff recognised people as individuals and developed good working relationships with people, understanding their care needs and how best to support them in these areas.

Staff spoke passionately regarding the people they supported and working for the provider.

Relatives were complimentary regarding the service and support given to people. This included support to ensure that loved ones have regular face to face contact with them.

Right Culture:

We identified areas of improvements were required regarding documentation of medicines, MCA, support plans and checks that the provider makes in the service.

People were positive about relationships with staff and told us staff treated them as individuals.

People were encouraged to have choice and control of their lives. Staff supported people promoting independence, which was observed throughout the inspection.

Overall Staff gave positive feedback regarding working at Wistaston House and the leadership of the home, this included the support given from the provider’s senior leaders.

The manager, senior leaders and staff demonstrated a person-centred culture which focused on meeting people's individual needs. The manager was passionate and committed to developing individualised support and to make continued improvements.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 21 November 2019). The service remains rated requires improvement.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We have identified breaches in relation to oversight of medicines, support plans and management of risk. We also identified breach of management of audits and checks that the provider makes to ensure people were safe.

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

We made a recommendation relating to people’s communication plans, to ensure that staff have constant information on how best to communicate with people.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from 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 continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.