Background to this inspection
Updated
3 August 2021
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 Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
This inspection was carried out by two inspectors.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in two ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.
The service did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that the provider was legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was announced.
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 23 June 2021 and ended on 24 June 2021.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection-
We spoke with one relative about their experience of the care provided to their family members. We spoke with four staff including the provider and care workers.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection –
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. This included the providers reflection on what the service had done well in the past twelve months.
Updated
3 August 2021
About the service
Westbrook Care is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to two people with a variety of health care needs including autism and dementia at the time of the inspection.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Relatives told us that their family members were kept safe. Staff understood how to raise safeguarding concerns and the provider knew what action they would need to take. Risks to people were thoroughly assessed and appropriate support plans were put in place. People were protected from infections and cleaning schedules were in place within people’s homes.
People were supported with their medicines safely by staff who had received appropriate training. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs. People received care from a consistent staff team who knew people well.
Accidents and incidents were monitored and people knew how to make a complaint. Lessons learnt from these were shared with the staff team.
Assessments were carried out by the provider and were detailed and personalised. Staff were aware of people’s needs and received appropriate training to support them. People were supported with their nutrition and staff encourage people to eat and drink.
The service worked closely with other healthcare professionals and would make appropriate referrals were required.
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 told us staff were kind and caring. Care plans and daily records were written in a kind manner and the management team demonstrated a caring attitude. The service fought feedback from people and families on a regular basis. The service considered peoples wishes at the end of their lives and plans were in place to support them at this time.
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.
The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting how they were meeting some of the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.
Right support: The model of care maximised people’s choice, control and independence. People were cared for in a suitable environment that met their needs.
Right care: People were cared for in a kind way and received highly personalised care that promoted their independence and respected their privacy and dignity.
Right culture: The ethos of the service was positive and the provider and staff team demonstrated an inclusive culture.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 6 June 2020 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection as this service has not received an inspection since it had registered with us.
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.