Weston Court

Updated 19 February 2019

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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

The inspection took place on 14 November 2018 and was unannounced. We contacted family members of people who used the service after the inspection visit.

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Before the inspection we reviewed information we had about the service, including notifications by the provider about events affecting people who used the service and information shared with us by people’s family members.

During the inspection there was one person using the service. We spoke with them and their support worker. We also spoke with the registered manager.

We reviewed records including care records of four people and staff files of two members of staff. Other records included policies and procedures, meetings of minutes, returns of satisfaction surveys, routine reports made in the course of running the service, and a local authority audit report.

Updated 19 February 2019

This inspection took place on 14 November 2018 and was unannounced. It was Weston Court’s first inspection.

Weston Court 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.

Weston Court is designed and registered to provide short term, temporary accommodation for people with a learning disability or other disability whose family carers normally support them. It can accommodate up to three people in purpose built premises.

Taking into account the short-term nature of people’s stays at the service, it has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with a learning disability or autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Although the home was kept clean and hygienic, the provider did not have processes in place as recommended by government guidance to reduce the risk of the spread of infection in care homes. Not all staff had received appropriate training that was available to maintain and develop their skills and knowledge to support people according to their needs and to support people in the event of a fire evacuation. We have made recommendation about referring to published guidance and making sure people could be supported safely in a fire emergency.

Records were not always in place to show staff put into practice the principles of best interests decision making, although other records were in place to show compliance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

The provider had arrangements in place to protect people from risks to their safety and welfare, including the risks of avoidable harm and abuse. Staffing levels were sufficient to support people safely. Recruitment processes were in place to make the provider only employed workers who were suitable to work in a care setting. There were arrangements were in place to store medicines safely and administer them safely and in accordance with people’s preferences.

People were supported to eat and drink enough to maintain their health and welfare. People were supported to access healthcare services, such as GPs and specialist nurses.

Care workers had developed caring relationships with people they supported. People were encouraged to take part in decisions about their care and support and their views were listened to. Staff respected people’s independence, privacy, and dignity.

Care and support were based on assessments and plans which took into account people’s abilities, needs and preferences. People were able to take part in leisure activities which reflected their interests. People were kept aware of the provider’s complaints procedure, and complaints were managed in a professional manner.

The home had a welcoming atmosphere. Systems were in place to make sure the service was managed efficiently and to monitor and assess the quality of service provided.