Archived: Westhaven

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

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.

Why the service is rated Good.

Care was planned and delivered safely. There were sufficient and suitable staff employed to support people in a way that met their needs and preferences. Staff understood their role in safeguarding people and taking steps to reduce the risk of avoidable harm. Medication systems were safe and people received their medicines as prescribed. The service was kept clean and staff maintained good infection control practices.

People maintained a healthy and balanced diet and their healthcare needs were met. Staff were well trained and worked collaboratively with each other and external professionals to deliver effective support. Staff had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and people received their care in the least restrictive way. The environment included adaptations and equipment which promoted people’s independence and safety.

Staff were kind and caring towards people. Care was provided in a way that promoted independence and protected people’s privacy and dignity.

People receive personalised care that was planned in partnership with them and responsive to their changing needs. Staff sensitively supported people to make choices about their end of life care and recorded advance wishes where appropriate. People had opportunities to engage in activities that were meaningful to them and developed their skills. People and relatives knew how to raise a complaint and were confident their concerns would be addressed by staff or management.

The manager had worked at Westhaven for many years and was in the process of applying for registration following a recent promotion. People, relatives and staff felt the service was well managed and communication across the service was effective. All stakeholders were committed to a shared vision of continuous improvement.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

Westhaven is a care home which provides care and support for up to six adults with a learning disability. At the time of our inspection there were four males and two females using the service.

There was a registered manager at the service. 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People using the service told us they were happy living at the service. They told us it felt like home and that staff treated them well. There was a family feel to the service and it was clear that people were comfortable in their surroundings.

People’s needs in relation to medicines, healthcare and eating and drinking were being met by the provider. People told us they received their medicines on time. They had access to a GP and other healthcare professionals, and care workers supported them to attend appointments. They told us they enjoyed the food at the home and we saw that the kitchen was well stocked with good quality food items.

The provider was meeting the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). Staff were aware of the need to ask people for consent before supporting them with personal care. Care records were signed by people indicating their consent. Care records included a section where people’s capacity to understand was documented and where people did not have the capacity to make decisions, best interests meetings took place which helped to ensure that their rights were protected. No applications to deprive people of their liberty or restrict their movements were required.

Care records were comprehensive in scope and covered a range of areas from healthcare monitoring, behaviour management plans, risk assessments and support plans. They were reviewed on a regular basis to make sure they were current. People met their key workers every month where they were able to have their say on their support needs.

Staff told us they felt supported and praised the registered manager for her openness and the training that was provided. Care workers received regular training and supervision and were therefore able to support people better.

The registered manger had an open door policy and people and their relatives told us they knew who to speak with if they had concerns. Regular monitoring took place through questionnaires, manager walk-arounds and audits.

We met and spoke with all five people who used the service. They all spoke highly of the home and the staff working there. People told us they were well cared for and that staff understood their needs.

We looked at person centred plans that had been written with the input of the individual. These were detailed and outlined people's strengths, preferences, needs and expectations of the service. We saw care plans were reviewed regularly.

People told us they had weekly meetings when they discussed matters regarding the day to day running of the home. They told us they planned their weekly menus, their shopping trips, their cleaning schedules, their activities and cooking rotas during these meetings. People told us the staff supported them with most skills and they were kind and caring.

Staff told us the home was a good place to work. They said they felt they had the training and supervision that enabled them to undertake their roles effectively.

People looked relaxed and happy. They told us they felt safe and were encouraged to talk to staff if they felt unhappy about any thing or any one. We saw staff had undertaken safeguarding training, and help line numbers were provided throughout the home for people if required.

Quality monitoring of the service was also in place.

We looked at the care records of three people who used the service which showed how people's needs had been assessed. Plans were in place to meet both their health and social care needs. These focussed on the person concerned and showed how they had been involved in their preparation and review.

People who used the service felt safe because policies and procedures were in place to investigate any allegations of abuse or abuse they witnessed. Staff were familiar with reporting procedures. Safeguarding vulnerable adults from abuse formed part of their annual training and record to support this were seen during the inspection.

We looked at the processes used to gather people's views about the quality of the service provided.