We carried out a review of the data available to us about Westview on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Westview, you can give feedback on this service.
Westview is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for six younger adults and people who have a learning disability. There were six men living in the service at the time of our inspection visit. The 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 was run by a company who was the registered provider. There was a registered manager in post. 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. In this report when we speak about both the company and the registered manager we refer to them as being, ‘the registered persons’.
At the last inspection on 14 October 2015 the service was rated, ‘Good’.
At this inspection we rated the service as, ‘Good’.
People were safeguarded from situations in which they may experience abuse including financial mistreatment. Risks to people’s safety had been assessed, monitored and managed so they were supported to stay safe while their freedom was respected. This included times when people became distressed and needed help to keep themselves and others around them safe. Medicines were managed safely. There were enough staff on duty and background checks had been completed before new care staff had been appointed. Furthermore, there were suitable arrangements to prevent and control infection. In addition, lessons had been learnt when things had gone wrong.
Care was delivered in a way that promoted positive outcomes for people and care staff had the knowledge and skills they needed to provide support in line with legislation and guidance. This included respecting people’s citizenship rights under the Equality Act 2010. People received the individual assistance they needed to enjoy their meals and they were helped to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced diet. In addition, suitable steps had been taken to ensure that people received coordinated and person-centred care when they used or moved between different services.
People had been supported to live healthier lives by having suitable access to healthcare services so that they received on-going healthcare support. Furthermore, the accommodation was designed, adapted and decorated to meet people’s needs and expectations.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives. In addition, the registered persons had taken the necessary steps to ensure that people only received lawful care that was the least restrictive possible.
People were treated with kindness, respect and compassion and they had been given emotional support when needed. In addition, they had been supported to express their views and be actively involved in making decisions about their care as far as possible. This included them having access to lay advocates if necessary. Furthermore, confidential information was kept private.
People received personalised care that was responsive to their needs. This included them having access to information that was presented to them in an accessible way. In addition, people had been offered opportunities to pursue their hobbies and interests. Furthermore, the registered manager recognised the importance of promoting equality and diversity. This included appropriately supporting people who chose gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender lifestyles. There were arrangements to ensure that people’s concerns and complaints were listened and responded to in order to improve the quality of care. In addition, suitable provision had been made to support people at the end of their life to have a comfortable, dignified and pain-free death.
There was a registered manager who had promoted a positive and person centred culture in the service. In addition, there were suitable management arrangements to ensure that regulatory requirements were met. People who lived in the service and members of staff were actively engaged in developing the service. Furthermore, there were systems and procedures to enable the service to learn, improve and assure its sustainability. Also, the registered persons were actively working in partnership with other agencies to support the development of joined-up care.
This inspection took place on 14 October 2015. Twenty-four hours’ notice of the inspection was given to ensure that the people we needed to speak to were available.
The service is registered to provide accommodation and support for up to six people with learning disabilities and mental health needs. There were six people living at Westview during our inspection who were living with learning disabilities and/ or mental health needs. People were largely independent and required only support and prompting in their day to day lives.
Westview is a large domestic-style house. There was a large lounge available with comfortable seating and a TV for people. There was also a kitchen with a table at which people could sit to eat. There was an enclosed garden to the rear of the building. Westview is situated in a residential street near to the sea in Folkestone.
The service had a registered manager in post at the time of our visit. 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.
A survey of people living in the service found that they reported feeling safe. Staff knew how to recognise signs of abuse and how to report it. They told us how they protected people from financial abuse and supported people to be safe in the community.
Assessments had been made about physical and environmental risks to people and actions had been taken to minimise these. Incidents and accidents were managed appropriately to avoid recurrences.
There were enough staff on duty to support people, and proper pre-employment checks had taken place to ensure that staff were suitable for their roles.
Medicines had been managed appropriately and equipment had been serviced on a regular basis to ensure that it remained safe for use.
Staff had received training in a wide range of topics and this had been regularly refreshed.
Supervisions and appraisals had taken place to make sure they were performing to the required standard and to identify developmental needs.
People’s rights had been protected by assessments made under the Mental Capacity Act (MCA).
Staff understood about restraint and applications had been made to deprive people of their liberty when this was deemed necessary.
Menus were rotated on a four-weekly basis and people said the meals were “Tasty”. People were offered choice and their requests for more stews and curries for the Winter had been met. Weights were recorded to identify any significant gains or losses which might need to be addressed further.
Healthcare needs had been assessed and addressed. People had regular appointments with GPs, opticians, dentists, chiropodists and podiatrists to help them maintain their health and well-being.
Staff treated people with kindness and respect for their privacy and dignity. Each person had a keyworker assigned to them to give individual and focused support. Staff knew people well and remembered the things that were important to them so that they received person-centred care.
People had been involved in their care planning and care plans recorded the ways in which they liked their support to be given. Bedrooms were personalised and people’s preferences were respected. Independence was encouraged so that people were able to help themselves as much as possible.
Relatives and people knew how to complain if they wished to and were given the opportunity to voice their views about the service at ‘Your voice’ meetings. This meant they could engage with the service and influence changes.
Staff felt that there was a culture or openness and honesty in the service and said that they enjoyed working there. This created a comfortable and relaxed environment for people to live in.
Systems were in place to assess and monitor the quality and safety of the service. This was achieved by the effective use of auditing and through encouraging feedback from people, relatives and staff.
We found that people had been asked about the care and support they wanted, it met their need and people had agreed to it. Processes showed that the quality of the service was monitored and people's views were listened to. We saw that medicines were stored and administered safely. We found that staff felt supported and had received appropriate training.
People we spoke with said they were happy living at Westview and liked the staff. Comments that people made included 'I am settled here, it's a relaxed place to live' and 'I am happy with my care'.
People told us that they were involved in making decisions about their care and support. The people that we spoke with said they were given choices about their daily routines, such as when to get up and go to bed, what to eat and what to do each day. They said they had opportunities to choose and take part in activities and events which helped to develop daily living skills and offered access to the community. People said that they enjoyed their activities and that they had opportunities to offer their views and make suggestions about the service at regular meetings.
People said they were happy with their bedrooms and that they helped to keep the house clean and tidy.
All of the people we spoke with told us that they were satisfied with the care and support they received and spoke positively about the staff. We saw that staff were supportive and considerate of people's different needs, people were offered choices and we saw that their dignity and independence was respected.