Northwick House

Updated 20 January 2024

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

The inspection team consisted of 1 inspector.

Service and service type

Northwick House is a care home. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We met 3 people who were in the home. Only 1 person was able to speak with us due to people’s needs. We therefore observed interactions between people and staff. Following the site visit, we spoke 4 family members. We also met and spoke with 2 care workers, the team leader and the registered manager. We looked at a range of management records including medicines, quality audits and health and safety checks. We reviewed 3 people’s care records and 4 staff recruitment records. After the site visit, we continued to liaise with the service. The registered manager sent us documentation we asked for and clarified any queries we had. We also received feedback from 1 care professional.

Updated 20 January 2024

About the service

Northwick House is a care home registered to accommodate up to 5 people who have learning disabilities and require support with personal care. The home provides respite care to people. There were 20 people assessed for respite care at the home. At the time of our inspection, there were 4 people who were staying at the home.

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

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance the Care Quality Commission (CQC) follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

Right Support:

Staff understood their responsibilities about safeguarding and keeping people safe from harm. Medicines were managed safely. Risks of harm to people were assessed and reduced as much as possible. Staff were recruited safely. People were cared for in a safe, clean and well equipped, environment. There were effective systems to prevent and control infections.

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.

People were treated well and supported with their equality and diversity respected. People received person-centred care which met their needs and preferences. People’s communication needs were assessed and met.

Right Care:

People received kind and compassionate care. Staff respected people's privacy and dignity. People's needs were assessed and delivered in line with their choices and they were supported by staff who were trained to meet their needs. Staff worked with other health and social organisations.

People were supported by a staff team who knew them well. Care plans reflected people's needs, likes and preferences.

People were supported to develop and maintain relationships and take part in activities of interest to them.

Right Culture:

People received good quality care and support. Staff understood people’s needs and were responsive, supporting them to live a quality life of their choosing. People were supported by staff who shared a positive culture which provided them with good outcomes.

Processes were in place to record any accidents and incidents. People's privacy and dignity was respected, and their independence promoted.

Staff evaluated the quality of support and made adjustments to reflect people's needs and wishes.

Staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities. The registered manager understood their obligation under the duty of candour. Systems were in place to monitor the service which included audits and obtaining feedback from people and family members.

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 good (published 2 February 2018).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.