Archived: Wellwick House

Wellwick House provides accommodation and personal care for up to six people who have a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder and high functioning needs. Wellwick House is an adapted residential property which can accommodate six people. The service is situated in a residential area of St Osyth in Clacton and is close to amenities and main bus routes. The premises is set out on two floors with each person using the service having their own individual bedroom and adequate personal and communal facilities are available for people to make use of within the service. At the time of our inspection four people were using the service.

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.' Registering the Right Support CQC policy.’

At our last inspection of this service on 24 February 2016 the service was rated 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.

A registered manager was in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (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 were kept safe from harm because staff routinely assessed risks and worked collaboratively to reduce them. Where incidents had occurred, action was taken to keep people safe.

Staff knew how to identify and respond to potential abuse and were trained in safeguarding adults procedures.

People's medicines were managed and administered safely by trained staff and the systems were regularly checked.

The service environment was clean and safe with regular checks carried out on its safety.

People were prepared food in line with their preferences and dietary requirements. Staff ensured people's healthcare needs were met. Before coming to live at the service, a thorough assessment of people's needs was carried out.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Staff had the right training and support for their roles.

People were supported by kind and committed staff who knew them well. Staff provided care in a way that encouraged people to develop skills and independence. People's dignity and privacy was promoted as staff provided care in a respectful manner. Staff involved people in their care and the provider had systems to ensure people could express their culture, religion, gender and sexuality.

Care was planned in a personalised manner, with detailed care planning around people's needs, preferences and routines. Care was regularly reviewed and where changes in need were identified, care plans were updated.

Staff supported people to attend activities that suited their interests and personalities. People's wishes with regards to end of life care had been recorded.

People, relatives and staff got on well with the registered manager. Systems were in place to seek feedback or suggestions from stakeholders and staff. There were a variety of checks and audits carried out at the service and a continuous plan to improve.

The registered manager engaged with the local community, as well as relatives and professionals in an open and transparent manner.

Further information is in the detailed findings below

The service has a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People were protected from the risk of abuse as staff had attended training to ensure they had good understanding of their roles and responsibilities if they suspected abuse was happening. The manager had shared information with the local authority when needed.

People were supported by a sufficient number of suitably qualified staff. The provider had ensured appropriate recruitment checks were carried out on staff before they started work. Staff had been recruited safely and had the skills and knowledge to provide care and support in ways that people preferred.

The provider had systems in place to manage medicines and people were supported to take their prescribed medicines safely.

The service was meeting the requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Appropriate mental capacity assessments and best interest decisions had been undertaken by relevant professionals. This ensured that the decision was taken in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005, DoLS and associated Codes of Practice. The Act, Safeguards and Codes of Practice are in place to protect the rights of adults by ensuring that if there is a need for restrictions on their freedom and liberty these are assessed and decided by appropriately trained professionals. People at the service were subject to the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Staff had been trained and had a good understanding of the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

Positive and caring relationships had been developed between people and staff. Staff responded to people’s needs in a compassionate and caring manner. People were supported to make day to day decisions and were treated with dignity and respect at all times. People were given choices in their daily routines and their privacy and dignity was respected. People were supported and enabled to be as independent as possible in all aspects of their lives.

Staff knew people well and were trained, skilled and competent in meeting people’s needs. Staff were supported and supervised in their roles. People, where able, were involved in the planning and reviewing of their care and support.

People’s health needs were managed appropriately with input from relevant health care professionals. People were treated with kindness and respect by staff who knew them well. People were supported to maintain a nutritionally balanced diet and sufficient fluid intake to maintain good health. Staff ensured that people’s health needs were effectively monitored.

People were supported to maintain relationships with friends and family so that they were not socially isolated. There was an open culture and staff were supported to provide care that was centred on the individual. The manager was open and approachable and enabled people who used the service to express their views.

People were supported to report any concerns or complaints and they felt they would be taken seriously. People who used the service, or their representatives, were encouraged to be involved in decisions about the service. The provider had systems in place to check the quality of the service and take the views and concerns of people and their relatives into account to make improvements to the service.

Staff knew people well and they were able to tell us about their specific needs. We saw that there were respectful and caring interactions between members of staff and people living in the home. Staff listened to people and provided care and support in ways that met their needs and took into account their individual preferences.

There were systems in place to supervise and support staff and provide them with the training they needed. This ensured that they had the skills and knowledge to provide safe and effective care.

Wellwick House was well run by a competent management team and there were effective processes to monitor the quality of the service. They listened to people and took their views into account to make improvements.