Westbrook House

Updated 16 April 2021

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 care homes with outbreaks of coronavirus, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control practice was safe, and the service was compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 04 February 2021 and was unannounced.

Updated 16 April 2021

This inspection was carried out on 23 January 2018 and was unannounced. At their last inspection on 7 October 2016, they were found to be meeting the standards we inspected. At this inspection we found that they had continued to meet all the standards.

Westbrook House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Westbrook House provides accommodation for up to eight people with learning and physical disabilities. The home is not registered to provide nursing care. At the time of the inspection there were eight people living there.

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.

The service had a manager who was registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). A registered manager is a person who has registered with the 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.

People’s demeanour around staff indicated that they felt safe and relatives told us that they felt people were safe. Staff knew how to work safely and promote people’s welfare. There was effective infection control procedures in place and people’s medicines were managed safely. Lessons learned were shared with staff to help reduce a reoccurrence of an incident.

People were supported by staff who were trained and received regular supervision. People were encouraged to eat a healthy, balanced diet and there was access to healthcare professionals when needed. Staff understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act and people were given choices throughout their day. The design and layout of the building met the needs of people who lived at the service.

People were supported by staff in a kind and respectful way which promoted their dignity. Staff had established relationships with people and this allowed for effective communication. People and their relatives were involved in planning their care and their views were listened to.

People received care that met their needs and care plans were written in a way that provided staff with clear guidance about the person’s needs and the life they liked to live. People participated in activities, hobbies and interests on a daily basis and recently all enjoyed a holiday together.

There was a complaints process available and people were asked for their views at meetings. In addition people, their relatives and professionals were invited to give their feedback in a survey where we found feedback was all positive.

The home was well managed by a management team who were passionate about the standards of care provided to people they cared about. There were systems in place to ensure the service maintained standards they expected.