Westerley Residential Care Home for the Elderly - Woodhall Spa

On this page

• Overview
• Assessing needs
• Delivering evidence-based care and treatment
• How staff, teams and services work together
• Supporting people to live healthier lives
• Monitoring and improving outcomes
• Consent to care and treatment

There had been improvements to the way people’s needs were assessed and managed. Staff had received training and guidance on the provider’s electronic care plan system. This had resulted in better information in care plans on people’s care needs. Staff used nationally recognised assessment tools to ensure people’s care was based on up to date information. Staff worked with health professionals to support people's health and wellbeing. Staff worked in line with the mental capacity act when providing support for people in their care.

This service scored 58 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

People were happy with the way their needs were assessed. They were as involved in the assessment process as much or as little as they wanted. Relatives told us staff discussed any changes to their family member’s need with them when this was required. One relative told us they came to visit their family member, who lacked capacity to make their own decisions, about three times a week. If anything needed changing to their family member’s care, they and the staff worked together to make sure the care was right for that person.

Staff told us they were confident about reading, recording and changing information in people’s care records. They were involved in making sure information about people’s needs was correct.

There had been significant improvement in the way information about people's assessed needs was managed since our last inspection. Staff now received training and support on using the electronic care plan system. We were able to see the information in people’s care plans reflected their daily needs.

People were happy with the care they received.

Staff were aware of the nationally recognised tools used to ensure people received the most up to date evidence based care.

People had up to date nationally recognised assessment tools used to assess their care, such as Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) to monitor their weights, and Waterlow scoring tools monitor their risk skin pressure damage. We saw these were reviewed regularly and reflected people’s care needs.

We did not look at How staff, teams and services work together during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Effective.

We did not look at Supporting people to live healthier lives during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Effective.

People and their relatives felt the service was quick to respond to any health needs people may have. Relative’s told us the care home contacted them if there were any concerns and sought timely medical advice for people. People and relatives also told us the new manager had a programme of events planned for people to keep them stimulated and improve their wellbeing, such as, trips out to garden centres, church, coffee mornings, theatre and other venues.

Staff told us they had a good relationship with the local GP who arranged for medicines reviews for people and responded to any concerns people had.

People’s records contained information on different health professionals input to their care. We saw this advice being followed by staff. This included monitoring people’s diets or ensuring they received treatment for long term health issues.

People’s experience of living in the service was positive. We spoke with a group of people who told us they were looked after but could do what they wanted, and having relatives and friends to visit was like being in their own home as visitors were made so welcome.

Staff knew the people they supported well. They talked about asking people’s permission before providing care for them. They understood the principles of the mental capacity act and how people had the right to refuse care. They discussed how they would work with the person, other staff and relatives to make sure people got good care.

People’s care records showed what measures were in place to support people with decisions where needed. For example one person who had full capacity had consented to a Lasting Power of Attorney to be in place for members of their immediate family to allow them to make choices for them if the time came when this was needed. Throughout our visit we saw staff, through their knowledge of people’s needs, supporting people to make choices about their care.