Windy Knowe Nursing Home

Updated 24 March 2021

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.

This inspection took place on 11 March 2021 and was announced.

Updated 24 March 2021

About the service

Windy Knowe Nursing Home is a large detached three-storey house set in its own grounds. People lived on the ground and first floor. The home is registered to provide nursing care for up to 49 older people and at the time of our visit the service was providing support for 28 people.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Improvements had been made to medicines and to the documentation. Medicines were managed safely and there were processes in place to make sure the environment and equipment were at an appropriate standard.

We observed care being delivered in the home and saw that this was done in a caring and patient manner. We saw that people were comfortable in the presence of staff and positive relationships had developed between people receiving support, relatives and care staff. Visitors told us staff were kind and treated their relatives with dignity and respect.

People had detailed care plans and risk assessments in place that gave guidance on how people were to be supported according to their wishes and needs. These were regularly reviewed. People received the support they needed to eat and drink and maintain a healthy and balanced diet. Staff knew people's dietary needs and we observed how people enjoyed the food available to them.

Staff were recruited safely and received regular training, supervisions, attended staff meetings and had regular practice checks. Agency staff also received an induction into the home prior to them starting their shifts.

The provider and management team had a range of audits in place that helped drive improvement and ensure quality service for people living in the home.

The activities co-ordinator had recently left, however the provider and registered manager assured us that the staff were continuing with the activites. The registered manager had designed social events that promoted family relationships and communication between visitors and the home.

Complaints, accidents and incidents were managed appropriately and referrals were made to other professionals in a timely when people living in the home were in need.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 20 December 2018).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.