Westholme Care Home Limited

Updated 16 June 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

Two inspectors and an Expert by Experience carried out the inspection. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Westholme Care Home Limited is a ‘care home’ without nursing care. 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. 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 a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

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 all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 10 people who used the service, 2 relatives and 1 person’s friend about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 9 members of staff including the provider, registered manager, care manager and carers. We spoke with the cook, housekeeping staff, and a visiting health professional. We had a walk around the home to make sure it was homely, suitable and safe. We observed the care and support people received. This helped us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 4 people's care records and multiple medication records. We looked at 4 staff files in relation to recruitment and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 16 June 2023

About the service

Westholme Care Home Limited is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 26 people. The home consists of 3 large houses converted to 1 large home over 3 floors. The kitchen and laundry facilities are on the ground floor. There are several communal rooms including lounges, conservatory, dining room and landscaped gardens. At the time of our inspection there were 19 people living in the home.

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

We have made a recommendation about staff deployment and person centred language. Medicines were stored and administered safely. People were supported safely, and the provider had plans in case of emergencies. Staff were employed following a safe and robust recruitment process Staff had received training to keep people safe and knew what action to take in response to any allegations of abuse. There were no restrictions on family and friends visiting.

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.

Community health and social care professionals had been involved in the care and support of those who lived at the home and people's dietary needs were met.

People told us they received good care. Their preferences and wishes were respected by the staff team. People were treated with dignity and respect and were involved in the decision-making process. We observed some lovely interactions by staff members towards people who lived at the home and staff we spoke with were clearly committed to the people who lived at Westholme Care Home Limited.

People’s needs were assessed, and care plans were developed to promote their lifestyle choices and positive risk taking. The provider had a complaints policy and procedure. People and staff told us they could raise concerns with managers and feel safe and supported. The provider knew how to access support to support people when they required end of life care.

The service was led by a management team who were described as approachable, supportive and caring. The culture at the home was open and inclusive. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities. The provider monitored the quality of the service using a range of systems. The care manager and provider acted upon suggestions or ideas that were made by people, staff and professionals, to ensure the service continued to improve.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update: The last rating for this service was inadequate (published 23 March 2023). The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve.

At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

At our last inspection we recommended the provider manage the risks around building maintenance and gathering people’s end of life preferences. At this inspection we found the provider had made improvements in these areas.

This service has been in Special Measures since 23 March 2023. During this inspection the provider demonstrated that improvements have been made. The service is no longer rated as inadequate overall or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is no longer in Special Measures.

Why we inspected

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 the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection.

The overall rating for the service has changed from inadequate to requires improvement based on the findings of this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Westholme Care Limited on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Recommendations

We have made recommendations around the deployment of staff and the use of person centred language. Please see the safe and well-led sections of this report.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.