17 & 20 November 2015
During a routine inspection
We carried out our inspection on 17 and 20 November 2015. The inspection was unannounced on both days.
The service provides accommodation for up 16 older people. At the time of our inspection there were 15 people using the service.
The service had a registered manager. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People felt safe at Westwood House. Staff had a good understanding of the provider’s procedure to keep people safe from harm and abuse. Staff told us they would report any concerns firstly to the registered manager and deputy manager. The managers referred concerns to relevant authorities. Staff also knew the external agencies they could contact if they were concerned about people’s safety, for example the local authority adult safeguarding team and Care Quality Commission.
People could not be assured that they would receive their medicines as prescribed by their doctor. The administration of medicines was not sufficiently safe and errors had occurred although we could not identify that anyone had suffered harm as a result. The registered manager told us they had plans in place to commence the improvements required to manage people’s medicines correctly.
The provider did not always support people in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2015. We found that the provider did not always complete mental capacity assessments where required. They also could not evidence that where they made decisions on behalf of people that they did so in people’s best interest.
People were supported with their nutritional and health needs. They had access to a variety of healthy meals that they told us they enjoyed. They also had prompt access to healthcare services when they needed them.
People told us they liked the quality of care they received from staff. They told us staff supported them to meet their individual needs. We observed that staff supported people in a caring manner, and promoted people’s dignity and privacy.
People using the service, their relatives and staff told us the managers were accessible and supported them when needed.
The provider had quality assurance systems to monitor the quality of the service. The system had failed to identify the concerns we found with the management and recording of people's medicines or in supporting people's human right under the Mental Capacity Act.