Lonsdale Midlands Ltd - Windward Way

Updated 6 November 2020

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.

This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place. As part of CQC's response to the coronavirus pandemic we are conducting a thematic review of infection control and prevention measures in care homes.

The service was selected to take part in this thematic review which is seeking to identify examples of good practice in infection prevention and control.

This inspection took place on 23 October 2020 and was announced.

Updated 6 November 2020

Windward Way is a residential care home for up to 15 people with learning disabilities and Autism. The home is set across three bungalows and each home is set as a separate home.

At our last inspection we rated the service Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

The inspection took place on the 03 September 2018 and was unannounced.

There was a registered manager at this home. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered providers and registered managers 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.

The care service 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 learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

Relatives said they were happy about the care their family member received. Staff were caring and promoted people’s independence and people were able to maintain important relationships with family and friends. People had food and drink they enjoyed and had choices available to them, to maintain a healthy diet. Staff knew the people who lived at the home well and were able to support them to eat and drink. People were protected against the risks associated with medicines because the provider had appropriate arrangements to manage them. Relatives told us their family members had access to health professionals as soon as they were needed and were confident they received support to maintain their wellbeing.

People and their families were involved in planning the care their relatives received and were kept informed about their care. Relatives felt communication had improved at the home and they felt more relaxed in speaking with the registered manager about their family member's care.

Staff received training and understood the signs of abuse, and systems were in place to guide them in reporting these. Staff understood individual needs for people and about how to manage them. There were sufficient staff available to meet people’s needs. Staff underwent recruitment processes that included background checks on the suitability of staff to work at the home. People received their medicines and checks were undertaken to ensure people received their medicines safely.

People were treated with kindness by staff that knew and understood their needs well. Many of the staff had known people for a significant period of time and knew people and their needs well. A team of long serving staff ensured people’s needs were incorporated into planning their care.

The registered manager promoted an inclusive approach to providing care for people living at the home by involving people and staff in making decisions about people’s care. Staff attended regular meetings to share their views and ideas for improving care at the home. Staff reported an open culture at the home, where they felt able to request advice and guidance from the registered manger. The provider and registered manager had effective systems to monitor how care at the service was provided, to ensure people received quality care that was reviewed and updated regularly.