Welland House Care Centre

Updated 1 January 2022

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.

As part of CQC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.

The service had been identified for use by the Local Authority as a designated care setting in response to the Winter Plan for people discharged from hospital with a positive COVID-19 status. This targeted inspection was to ensure that the service was compliant with infection control and prevention measures.

This inspection took place on 20 December 2021 and was announced.

Updated 1 January 2022

This inspection site visit took place on 19 December 2017 and was unannounced.

Welland House Care Centre is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Welland House Care Centre accommodates up to 51 people in one adapted building, with areas for people to spend time together or more privately as they choose. Accommodation and care is provided to older people, including those living with dementia. There were 44 people living at the home at the time of our inspection.

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

People were supported to stay as safe as possible by staff who understood what actions to take to reduce risks to their well-being. This included reducing risks to people’s physical health and mental well-being. People, their relatives and staff were confident if they had any concerns for people’s safety the registered manager would put plans in place to help them. There was enough staff to meet people’s care needs. We have made a recommendation about the way staff were deployed as there were occasions where people did not consistently benefit from the opportunity to chat with staff. The registered manager told us they would follow this recommendation.

People could rely on trained and competent staff supporting them to have the medicines they needed to remain well and free from pain. People benefited from living in a home where there were systems in place to reduce the risk of infections and staff knew what action to take to care for people if they experienced any infections. Checks on the environment were undertaken and systems for identifying if there was any learning after safety incidents were in place.

Staff considered people’s care needs and involved people who knew them well before people came to live at the home, so they could be sure they could meet people’s needs. Staff had received the training they required so people would be supported by staff with the skills needed to help them. People were supported to choose what they wanted to eat and to obtain care from other health and social care professionals so they would remain well. 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.

People had developed caring relationships with the staff who supported them and showed us they liked the staff who cared for them. Staff communicated with people in the ways they preferred and encouraged them to make their own day to day decisions about their care. People received care from staff who took action to promote their dignity and independence. We made a recommendation about the way people’s information was stored, so their privacy and confidentiality was further enhanced. The registered manager took immediate action to follow our recommendation.

People’s care had been planned by taking their individual wishes, histories and needs into account. People’s care plans incorporated advice provided by other health and social care professionals, so they would receive the care they needed in the ways they preferred. Staff checked if people’s needs were changing, and planned and provided their care taking any changes into account. Systems were in place to respond to any concerns or complaints and to incorporate any learning into care subsequently provided.

People told us they liked living at the home and found the home was managed well. Relatives and health and social care professionals told us the culture at the home was open. The staff at the home had received compliments about the way care was provided. The registered manager had supported staff to understand how they were expected to care for people. The registered manager and provider checked people received the care they wanted, so they would be assured people enjoyed a good quality of life and risks to their safety were reduced.

The registered manager listened to the views of people, their relatives and staff when developing people’s care and the home further. This helped to ensure people had the equipment they needed and opportunities to continue to do things they enjoyed as their needs changed. The registered manager planned further work with other health and social care professionals, so people would benefit from living in a home where staff further developed their caring skills and experience.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.