The Care Quality Commission

Archived: Wast Hills House

Wast Hills Lane, Kings Norton Nr Bromsgrove, West Midlands, B38 9ET (0121) 458 2263

Provided and run by:
Castlebeck Care (Teesdale) Limited

Important: The provider of this service changed. See new profile

All Inspections

25 June 2013

During an inspection in response to concerns

We carried out this inspection in response to some concerns that had been raised by a whistle blower in April 2013.

During this inspection we were unable to speak with the people who used the service due to the level of their health needs. We spoke with staff and we looked at how staff cared for the people who used the service. We saw that people were being given choices around what they wanted to do. A member of staff told us that: 'All the staff I see try to give the best care'. We observed that people were receiving care that was meeting their health and welfare needs.

Medicines were being appropriately stored and administered and all medicine records were accurate.

Staff working at the hospital had access to further training and told us that they felt supported by their peers and the manager.

We found that the provider had held best interests meetings to support decisions about care where people had been unable to consent, or where decisions needed to be made on their behalf.

17 October 2012

During a routine inspection

During this inspection we spoke with two people who used the service and two relatives. We also looked at how staff cared for the people who used the service. We saw that people were being given choices around what they wanted to do. We observed that people were receiving care that was meeting their heath and welfare needs. One of the people we spoke with said, "They really look after me here".

The two relatives of people who used the service gave us positive feedback about the standards of care and support that the staff provided. One person said that the staff 'were very skilled and showed expertise'. Another said that, 'The staff definitely know what they are doing'.

Staff employed at the service had access to further training and told us that they felt supported by their peers and the registered manager. One staff member said they had, "good supervision and support". Another said, "I feel completely supported in my role". This meant that staff had the support and knowledge to meet the care and welfare needs of people who lived there.

There were regular meetings for people who used the service, their families and staff. This meant that the provider was able to review the quality of the service and to ensure appropriate care was being provided.

7 June and 7 July 2011

During an inspection in response to concerns

We spoke to patients at this hospital and they were able to show us their rooms and indicated that they were happy with their bedrooms. The rooms we saw were clean and decorated with some personal belongings. We were told that due to patients' needs they were not always able to tolerate many things in their rooms, but this would be done to reflect each persons needs.

The patients we spoke to were not able to talk to us about the care and treatment they receive. We were able to observe the care and treatment they received and the way care staff looked after them.

Patients had access to their bedrooms with staff assistance. In the main house, corridors that accessed the first floor and some bedrooms were secured. This prevented patients accessing those areas without staff supervision ensuring they were supported at all times. Staff told us that patients' could go to their rooms to access personal items and to complete tasks such as laundry. The main house contained three lounges with direct access to the gardens. The decoration in the main house and the annexe were clean and the communal areas of the house had been repainted and we saw new carpets being fitted in the hall.

The lodge accommodated four patients, and the communal areas contained more soft furnishings than the main house. We were told that patients there were able to manage in that type of environment. The bedrooms were personalised to the patients.

Patients were seen spending time in the lounges and in the grounds and gardens. The main house had activity rooms for the patients to use. The main house had a dining room. Patients at the annexe had their meal in the main house dining room.

We saw patients relaxing in the lounge following lunch. They were awaiting medication before carrying on with the activities planned for that afternoon. During this time staff supported patients and looked out for changes in behaviours and de-escalate challenging behaviours.

There were no relatives visiting during our visits, however we saw emails and letters that were complimentary of the hospital that had been provided. In summary there were compliments about the good level of care provided, the staff group and the improvements in their relatives' behaviours and well being.

We also saw a folder that contained complaints that the hospital had received and investigated. This folder also had feedback questionnaires completed by relatives that provided both positive and neutral comments. We saw no negative comments in these feedback questionnaires.

Relatives' comments:

'having days filled with activities to keep motivated and most importantly stable'x is once again a happy,fun loving young person'

'..such dedicated and caring people'

'Many thanks for the staff 'encouraging' x'also thank the staff who helped her'

Mental Health Act Commissioner reports

Each year, we visit all NHS trusts and independent providers who care for people whose rights are restricted under the Mental Health Act to monitor the care they provide and check that patients' rights are met. Immediate concerns raised by patients on those visits are discussed, if appropriate, with hospital staff.

Our Mental Health Act Commissioners may carry out a number of visits to each provider over a 12-month period, during which they talk to detained patients, staff and managers about how services are provided. In the past, we summarised themes from the visits and published an annual statement followed by the provider's response where applicable. We are looking at different ways to indicate the outcomes of our monitoring in the future.