Archived: Winters Park Care Home

Updated 21 November 2014

We carried out this unannounced inspection on 5 August 2014. The inspection team consisted of the lead inspector for the service, a second inspector and an expert by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who has used care services for older people.

Prior to the inspection visit we gathered information from a number of sources. We looked at the information received about the service from notifications sent to the Care Quality Commission by the registered manager. Prior to our visit we had received information from the provider which enabled us to focus on the areas of the inspection we wished to look at in detail. The last inspection was carried out in January 2014. There were no concerns identified and we found the service was meeting all standards looked at.  

This report was written during the testing phase of our new approach to regulating adult social care services. After this testing phase, inspection of consent to care and treatment, restraint, and practice under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) was moved from the key question ‘Is the service safe?’ to ‘Is the service effective?.

The ratings for this location were awarded in October 2014. They can be directly compared with any other service we have rated since then, including in relation to consent, restraint, and the MCA under the ‘Effective’ section. Our written findings in relation to these topics, however, can be read in the ‘Is the service safe’ sections of this report.’

We used a number of different methods to help us understand the experiences of people who lived in the home. We spoke to eight people who were living in the home, four visitors, five care staff and the registered manager. We spent time with people in the communal areas observing daily life including the care and support being delivered. As some of the people who lived in the home had dementia we used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a specific way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who had limited communication skills.

Updated 21 November 2014

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, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014. 

Winters Park provides accommodation and personal care for up to 41 older people, some of whom may suffer from dementia. It is owned and operated by Bupa Care Homes (CFC homes) Limited. The home is situated within a residential area about one mile from the town centre of Penrith.

There was a registered manager in post at the time of our inspection visit.  A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service and has the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the law; as does the provider.

At the last inspection visit in January 2014 we found that this service met all the national standards we looked at. Since then there has been no incidents or concerns raised that needed investigation.

This was an unannounced inspection that took place on 5 August 2014 and during the inspection we spoke to people in their own rooms and those who were sitting in the communal areas. People told us they were happy with the care and support they received. Comments included, “I love it here because I am never lonely.

People were protected by staff who knew how to keep them safe and managed individual risks well. Staffing levels were appropriate which meant there were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs and support their independence. Staff were aware of their responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. 

People had access to health care services which ensured their health care needs were met. Staff had completed training in safe handling of medicines and the medicines administration records were up to date. People were provided with sufficient food and drink in order to maintain good levels of nutrition and hydration. People told us they had a choice of dishes at each meal.

People told us staff were kind and caring, which our observations confirmed. People’s privacy and dignity was respected by staff that provided individual and personalised care. Each person had an individualised support plan that outlined the level of care required to meet their needs.

Staff training was up to date. All staff were supported by the management team through regular staff supervision and appraisals. Procedures in relation to recruitment and retention of staff were robust and ensured only suitable people were employed to care for and support those using this service.

The provider had an effective system in place to monitor the care and support given to those who lived in Winters Park.