Westlands

Updated 18 February 2022

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 8 February 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection.

Updated 18 February 2022

Westlands is a residential care home for up to 7 people. Care is provided across two floors in one adapted building. At the time of our inspection, there were 7 people living at the home. People living at the home had learning disabilities, autism and some had additional support with their mobility.

At our last inspection we rated the service ‘Good’. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of ‘Good’ and 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..

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated Good

People lived in a safe environment which was clean and regularly checked. Individual risks to people were assessed and plans were put in place to keep people safe whilst encouraging their independence. Where incidents had occurred, staff took appropriate actions to ensure people’s safety. There were sufficient numbers of staff present at the home to ensure that people were safe and staff were knowledgeable about how to manage risks and respond to potential safeguarding concerns. Staff were trained in how to administer people’s medicines safely and the provider maintained good practice in this area.

Staff had been given the right training and support to carry out their roles. People are 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 received a thorough assessment before coming to live at the home and the home environment was suited to people’s needs. Staff supported people to prepare meals that they liked and that matched their dietary needs.

People were supported by kind staff that knew them well. Staff routinely involved people in decisions about their care and identified ways to encourage people to develop skills and independence. People’s privacy and dignity was respected by staff when providing care.

People were supported to identify and achieve goals and care was planned in a person-centred way. Regular reviews were carried out to ensure care plans reflected people’s current needs and any changes were responded to. People had access to a range of activities that suited their interests as well as their needs. There was a clear complaints policy in place and the provider took proactive steps to identify and respond to feedback from people and their relative.

People and relatives spoke highly of the management at the home and the registered manager was accessible to people at all times. Staff praised the support that they received from management and there were systems in place to encourage staff to make suggestions and identify improvements. The provider regularly sought the feedback of people and relatives and involved them in decisions about their care at the home. There were a variety of checks and audits in place to monitor and assure the quality of the care that people received.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.