Westroyd Care Home

Westroyd Care Home is a care home registered to provide personal care and accommodation for up to 31 people, with differing needs, including older people, people living with dementia, physical disability and mental health needs. At the time of the inspection, the service was supporting 30 people.

This is the first assessment for this service since it was registered with the new provider, Crown Care VI Limited on 12 December 2023.

Systems and processes were in place to support an inclusive and positive culture of learning and improvement. The providers audits had identified areas for development, which included improvements both to the quality and consistency of care records, including some medicine administration records.

Potential risks relating to people’s care were assessed. However, in some instances we found people’s care records provided inconsistent information as to how risks associated with dehydration and malnutrition were to be mitigated and managed. The senior management team and registered manager took action and improved this recording.

People who were at risk of dehydration and malnutrition were referred to health care professionals. Risk related to falls and mobility were assessed, and equipment was used to reduce them. Care records provided information as to people’s health care needs, including catheter care and diabetes, and the management of associated risks.

Medicine administration records were not always signed by staff to confirm prescribed creams and ointments had been applied. Guidance for staff on the application of creams to be used as and when required lacked detail. The senior management team provided assurance improvements would be made. People’s medicines were regularly reviewed by a health care professional. Medicines, including tablets and liquids were administered and signed for and medicines were managed and stored safely.

People were able to participate in activities within the service, although the scope of these was limited. There were limited opportunities for people to access the wider community unless supported to do so by family members. The registered manager acknowledged improvements were needed in this area and was actively looking to bring about change.

Leaders worked with people, their relatives, staff and external partners to support in the delivery of safe care. However, the timeliness of responses to concerns regarding the condition of the driveway continued to be an area of concern for many family members. All those we spoke with expressed confidence in the registered manager and management team, who they said were both approachable and accessible.

Processes were in place to facilitate and support people to live healthier lives through ongoing reviewing and monitoring of people’s needs. Timely referrals were made to health care professionals in response to changes in people’s needs.

An external health care professional told us, “The care provided is consistently responsive and compassionate. Staff genuinely care about their residents and have a strong understanding of their health needs.”

Where people lacked capacity to make informed decisions then best interest decisions were made and documented. People who lacked capacity to make informed decisions were represented by a paid person’s representative when authorised restrictions were imposed to ensure their rights were protected and upheld.

People’s personal care needs were met by sufficient staff, who had undergone a safe recruitment process, and who had the training and knowledge to enable them to meet their needs, which included people living with dementia.

The provider engaged external contractors to maintain safety systems and equipment. We found the service to be clean. Recent improvement had been made to the environment, which in some areas included, decoration, new furnishings and flooring.