The Westcliff Care Home

Updated 5 January 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

The inspection was undertaken by one inspector.

Service and service type

The Westcliff Care Home is a ‘care home’. 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. The Westcliff Care Home is a care home without nursing care. 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

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 the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with six people who used the service. We also observed the care and support provided and the interactions between staff and people using the service, for example during lunch and when people were being supported with their medicines. We spoke with the registered manager and three staff members including care and catering staff. We also spoke with a visiting health care professional. Following our visit to the service we spoke with one person’s relative on the telephone.

We reviewed the care records of three people using the service and multiple medicine administration records. We reviewed documents relating to staff training, rota, and governance, such as audits and monitoring checks.

Updated 5 January 2023

About the service

The Westcliff Care Home is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to up to 33 people. The service provides support to older people and people living with dementia in one adapted building. At the time of our inspection there were 29 people using the service.

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

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.

Improvements had been made in the infection control procedures in the service and in the environment. We found the service to be clean and hygienic and risks to people mitigated. Improvements had been made in people’s care plans and risk assessments to guide staff in the support they required to reduce any risks to their safety and wellbeing. This included improvements in how people’s capacity was recorded, and decisions made to keep people safe in their best interests. The governance and monitoring systems had improved to ensure the management team could independently identify shortfalls and address them.

People received their medicines, as required, safely. People were supported by staff who were available when they needed them. However, we have recommended the provider review their staffing levels at night to reduce risks. Staff were recruited safely in line with the provider’s policies and procedures.

Staff were trained to meet people’s needs. People had access to health care professionals where required and the service worked well with other professionals involved in people’s care. People had access to enough food and drink and records were maintained to monitor people’s dietary and hydration needs.

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 requires improvement (published 12 July 2022). We had found breaches of regulation in relation to safe care and treatment and governance. 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 that the provider considered reviewing and updating their policy relating to COVID-19 to reflect the most current government guidance and to provide staff with updated training in moving and handling. At this inspection we found the provider had acted on any recommendations and had made improvements.

Why we inspected

We carried out unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 13 June 2022. Breaches of legal requirements were found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve around safe care and treatment, and good governance.

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe, Effective and Well-led which contain those requirements.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

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

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

Recommendations

We have recommended the provider review their staffing levels at night alongside people’s needs.

Follow up

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